5 of the worst red card decisions in football history

Willems was sent off after less than 30 secondsPSV defender Jetro Willems broke the record for fastest ever red card in Eredivisie history with a first minute sending off against NAC Breda on Tuesday night. What makes the story more noteworthy, though, is the fact the Dutch player never even touched his opponent.It was a truly woeful refereeing decision and is destined to appear in plenty of highlight reels over the coming years. Unfortunately, it’s hardly the first poor sending off decision we’ve ever seen and is simply the latest addition to a catalogue of gaffes made by officials.Here are five other awful sending offs:

#1 Samuel Inkoom Dnipro (v Kaparty)

Inkoom receives his marching orders

Samuel Inkoom was already heading off the pitch as Dnipro signalled for a substitution. Following a moment of madness, though, his replacement never made the field.

Whilst exiting the game, Inkoom removed his shirt only for the referee to instantly blow his whistle. A second yellow card resulted in a ridiculous sending off, leaving a bemused Inkoom to trudge towards the changing room shaking his head. Meanwhile, the substitute had to sit back down on the bench.

Technically the decision was right, but sometimes common sense should prevail.

#2 Kieran Gibbs Arsenal (v Chelsea)

Gibbs is wrongly sent off at Stamford Bridge

Arsene Wenger’s 1000th game in charge of Arsenal didn’t exactly go to plan as the Gunners were hammered 6-0 by a rampant Chelsea. However, the game is best remembered for one of the biggest refereeing blunders in Premier League history.

At 2-0 down Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain desperately tried to prevent a third by making a diving save to stop Eden Hazard’s shot, leaving Andre Marriner with no option but to produce the red card. Unfortunately, the referee showed it to the wrong player as the marching orders were inexplicably handed to Kieran Gibbs.

A case of mistaken identity that will forever remain a part of football folklore.

#3 Ashley Vickers Dorchester Town (Havant & Waterlooville)

Vickers was sent off for assisting security

When a streaker interrupted play in this 2011 Conference South clash, Dorchester player-manager Ashley Vickers thought he was helping the game by taking the intruder down. Instead, his actions were punished with an early bath.

Having seen the stewards barely attempt to contain the mankini clad pitch invader, Vickers could hardly be blamed for taking matters into his own hands. However, the referee viewed it as a moment of violent conduct and subsequently brandished one of the most ridiculous red cards ever.

We doubt that the referee was ever promoted to the professional leagues.

#4 Dariusz Pietrasiak Podbeskidzie (v Lech Poznan)

Pietrasiak still plays for Podbeskidzie

There are few greater sights in football than a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle. That is unless the officials decide to send you off anyway.

With Lech Poznan set to take the lead in first-half stoppage time, Dariusz Pietrasiak produced a brilliant tackle to prevent his opponent from creating a goalscoring chance. However, the referee instantly blew his whistle and wielded a straight red for the highly unfortunate defender.

Pietrasiak was adamant that he’d gone for the ball, which was verified by replays, but the damage had been done. Poznan went on to win the game too.

#5 Josip Simunic Croatia (v Australia)

Poll was never allowed to forget his blunder

Unlike the other players in this list, Croatia’s Josip Simunic did deserve to receive his marching orders; only, he should’ve been dismissed minutes earlier.

Simunic, who had originally been booked on the hour, received his second yellow of the match during the closing stages of Croatia’s 2-2 draw with Croatia but referee Graham Poll had forgotten about the first and allowed the defender to carry on playing.

To make matters worse; Simunic then received his third booking during injury time to complete one of the craziest stories in World Cup history. Unsurprisingly, Poll was immediately sent home.