The Indian Super League, which turned 1000 games old on Saturday, 9 November, has thrown up some of the most exciting matches for the Indian and world audience.
Having become the official league of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the ISL has continued to turn pages and instill new fans in it over the years. It has created a lot of memories for football fans across the world.
To go with the entertainment aspect of the league, it has also thrown up a few games in which more than one player was sent off the pitch for indiscipline. We try to look into these incidents today.
In this listicle, we take a look at the three matches that saw the most red cards in the history of the ISL:
#3 Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal, 2023-24 and FC Goa vs Kerala Blasters, 2016
Any game concerning a Calcutta giant is bound to have high emotions running through it, and one between Kerala Blasters and East Bengal in April 2024 was a perfect example. Played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor, Kochi, this game was won by the visiting team 4-2.
Saul Crespo and Naorem Mahesh Singh scored a brace each for the Torchbearers while the Blasters were helped by a goal from Fedor Cernych and an own goal from East Bengal central defender Hijazi Maher. However, the red cards to Naocha Singh and Jeakson Singh were the talking points of this game.
Jeakson, who had bagged a yellow card in the 29th minute, was given a second by referee Venkatesh after he clattered into Mahesh in midfield in the 45th. Naocha, who too had picked up a yellow in the 20th minute, was given a straight red card in the 74th.
In 2016, FC Goa joined this list after receiving two red cards in a dramatic 1-2 defeat to Kerala Blasters. Rafael Coelho gave Goa the lead, which was later equalized by Kervens Belfort’s penalty. Belfort’s spot-kick came after Gregory Arnolin was sent off for handling the ball inside the box. Richarlyson was then shown a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on CK Vineeth, who went on to score the winner in stoppage time, precisely in the 98th minute, securing victory for the Blasters.
#2 East Bengal vs Mohammedan, 2024-25
The goalless draw East Bengal played against Mohammedan on Saturday, 9 November was one of the most exciting games ever seen in the ISL, with two red cards being shown to the Torchbearers in the Salt Lake Stadium. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts managed to end the game with a point.
In a game where each team tried its best to breach the deadlock, Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh Singh, usually two of the most sedate players wearing Yellow and Gold, were sent off the pitch by referee Harish Kundu in the 29th and 30th minute respectively.
While Sekar was given his marching orders for violent conduct and raising his arms while grappling for the ball with Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Singh was sent off for having said something offensive to the referee. The latter was already on a yellow card, and paid the penalty with his second.
#1 Mumbai City vs Mohun Bagan, 2023-24
The first game on this list is the stunning encounter between Mumbai City and Mohun Bagan at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri, Mumbai on 20 December 2023. This game saw seven red cards being dished out in total by referee Rahul Gupta, four to Mumbai City and three to Mohun Bagan.
Mumbai won this game by a 2-1 scoreline, thanks to goals from Greg Stewart and Bipin Singh, who inspired them to come from behind and nullify Jason Cummings’ strike for the Mariners in the 25th minute. Stewart scored his goal just moments before the half-time whistle blew while Singh bagged his in the 73rd minute.
Mumbai left-back Akash Mishra was the first to receive a red card in the thirteenth minute for clattering into Manvir Singh from behind. Bagan right-back Asish Rai then received his red card for diving recklessly into Jorge Pereyra Diaz in the 54th minute, followed soon by Liston Colaco in the 57th for dissent.
Goalscorer Stewart received his marching orders in the 88th minute, while Mumbai captain Rahul Bheke, Vikram Partap Singh and Bagan’s Hector Yuste were also sent off the pitch after the final whistle for wrestling with each other, clashing and showering abuse.
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