FOOTY FAIR

Five Fastest Red Cards in Football History

2015-09-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

When Steven Gerrard was sent off after only 38 seconds of coming onto the pitch for Liverpool against Manchester United last season, United fans laughed in derision at the now departed Anfield legend.

But incredibly that doesn't even come close to cracking the top five for the fastest sendings off in football history.

The following five professional players that were sent to an early bath even sooner than Gerrard:

5) Mark Smith, Crewe Alexandra vs Darlington in 1994 (19 seconds)

With his defense parting like the Red Sea and a Darlington striker baring down on him straight from the kickoff, Mark Smith of Crewe Alexandra did what any self respecting nutjob goalkeeper would do and took the attackers legs out from under him. Smith saw a straight red for his efforts and Darlington scored from the spot kick. "CRASH!"

4) Kevin Pressman, Sheffield Wednesday vs Wolves in 2000 (13 seconds)

Straight from the kickoff Wolves put a hopeful ball up towards the edge of Sheffield Wednesday's box and incredibly their hapless keeper Kevin Pressman rushed out to touch with his hand. As he was outside of his area Pressman saw a straight red. "THUMP!"

3) Giuseppe Lorenzo, Bologna vs Parma in 1990 (10 seconds)

Giuseppe Lorenzo wasn't no time in getting the referee to show him a red in a Serie A match back in 1990. He simply walked on the pitch and punched an opponent in the face. "BAM!"

T-1) Walter Boyd, Swansea vs Darlington in 2000 (0 seconds)

Entering a match against Darlington as a substitute, Swansea's Walter Boyd got involved in a brawl before play resumed for a free kick and elbowed a Darlington player in the head. The official time of his sending off was zero seconds. "CRACK!"

T-1) Keith Gillespie, Sheffield United vs Reading in 2007 (0 seconds)

Former Manchester United and Newcastle United winger Keith Gillespie was always known as a fiery character and so he proved when he was subbed on for Sheffield United while Reading were trying to take a throw on. Before the ball could be thrown though he got into a brawl with Stephen Hunt and was sent off with zero seconds of live match action being played. "SMASH!"

2 Red Cards in 5 Minutes - How Dynamo Kyiv Gave Away a Match

2015-02-19T20:00:00.001-05:00

Earlier today in the first leg of the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League Dynamo Kyiv were cruising to what seemed to be a road win at Frech side Guingamp. After taking a 1-0 lead in just the 19th minute the Ukrainians looked comfortable, having scored an early away goal.

But with just 5 minutes to go before the hlaf things would turn sour for the side from the Ukrainian capital. At the 40 minute mark star winger Andriy Yarmolenko chopped at the legs of an opposition player in an attempt to stop the match because one of his teammates was down on the ground, with the referee not willing to halt the action. Yarmolenko saw a straight red, sending the visitors a man down.

In an attempt to solidify the lineup as a result of Yarmolenko's sending off, Kyiv manager Serhiy Rebrov made a substitution, bringing Moroccan midfielder Younès Belhanda in place of Serhiy Sydorchuk. But just 3 minutes after coming on the pitch, Belhanda decided to take matters into his own hands (or feet that is) when he chopped at the feet of an opposition player after being seemingly frustrated of being double-teamed by the Guingamp footballers.

Belhanda saw the same faith as his teammate Yarmolenko before him, a straight red card and a sending-off.

Guingamp would go on to take advantage of the two red cards in the second half, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of the round of 32 contest.

Watch the highlights of the match and the two red cards below:

Al Ahly Player Suspended For Untucking a Referee's Shirt

2014-10-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

One of the standard rules at all levels of football, from pub leagues to the World Cup Final, is that players should not put their hands on a referee.

Al Ahly midfielder Walid Soliman broke that rule on Monday and has been slapped with a four-match suspension by the Egyptian FA.

Charged with 'raising his hands to the referee' during his side’s 0-0 draw against Al Asyouty Sport, what Soliman did was a little funnier in fact.

After drawing his second yellow card of the match, the fiery midfielder proceeded to unstuck the referees shirt before leaving the pitch.

The North African country's football authorities did not see any humour in the situation however and besides the ban, have also fined Soliman for 5,000 LE, approximately $700 US.