Zinedine Zidane, the legendary French footballer, received a total of 14 red cards throughout his illustrious professional career.
Zidane's Career Disciplinary Record
Zidane's career, spanning from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s, was marked by incredible skill, vision, and leadership, but also a notable number of disciplinary actions. He himself reflected on his disciplinary record, stating that a significant portion of his dismissals stemmed from external factors.
Specifically, of the fourteen red cards Zidane accumulated during his playing career, twelve of them were a direct result of provocation. This insight highlights a particular aspect of his playing style and temperament, where his reactions to challenges or perceived injustices often led to his expulsion from matches.
Breakdown of Red Cards
To provide a clearer overview of Zidane's disciplinary statistics related to red cards, here's a summary:
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Career Red Cards | 14 |
| Red Cards Resulting from Provocation | 12 |
This breakdown illustrates that the vast majority of his career red cards were attributed to situations where he felt provoked, rather than purely tactical fouls or reckless play without an instigating factor.
Understanding Red Cards in Football
In football, a red card is the most severe disciplinary action a referee can take against a player. It signifies an immediate expulsion from the match, meaning the player must leave the field of play and cannot be replaced. This often puts the offending player's team at a significant disadvantage for the remainder of the game. Furthermore, a red card usually results in a suspension from subsequent matches, the length of which depends on the severity of the offense.
Common reasons for a red card include:
- Serious foul play
- Violent conduct
- Spitting at an opponent or any other person
- Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (professional foul)
- Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures
- Receiving a second yellow card in the same match
Zidane's Notorious Red Cards
While Zidane's 14 red cards occurred over many years, perhaps his most famous—and career-ending—dismissal was during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final against Italy. In extra time, he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi, an incident that became one of the most memorable and controversial moments in World Cup history. This particular red card, like many others he experienced, was a consequence of provocation, underscoring his statement about the nature of his dismissals. For more details on Zinedine Zidane's career, you can explore his Wikipedia profile.
