What Happens If a Goalkeeper Gets a Red Card?

When a goalkeeper is sent off:

• The referee shows the red card. The keeper must leave the field immediately — they cannot return.
• The manager makes a substitution. A substitute goalkeeper comes on; an outfield player goes off. This counts as one of the team's permitted substitutions for the match (max 5 in most modern competitions).
• The team plays with 10 players. The dismissed keeper's team plays the rest of the match a player short.
• The substitute keeper takes the position. They wear the keeper jersey and gloves; they have the goalkeeper's rights (handle the ball in the area, etc.).
• Goals conceded count. Any goals after the red card count as the substitute keeper's; the dismissed keeper has no further match involvement.

If a team has already used all their substitutions and the goalkeeper is sent off, an outfield player must go in goal. They wear a goalkeeper jersey and gloves but have no time to prepare. This is the "emergency keeper" scenario.

Famous emergency-keeper moments include: Cesc Fàbregas going in goal for Barcelona in 2010 vs Hércules; John O'Shea going in goal for Manchester United in 2007 vs Tottenham (he saved the resulting penalty). The emergency keeper has the same rights as a goalkeeper but typically lacks any goalkeeping training — most concede multiple goals.

A goalkeeper red card carries the same automatic suspensions as any outfield red card:

• Standard 1-match ban — for accumulating two yellow cards in the match (second-yellow → red).
• Standard 1-match ban — for serious foul play.
• Standard 3-match ban — for violent conduct.
• Match-specific extensions. A "professional foul" (denying a goal-scoring opportunity, or DOGSO) is now typically just a yellow if the keeper made a genuine attempt for the ball — the 2016 IFAB rule change. Otherwise it's a 1-match ban.

Under IFAB Law 12, a goalkeeper can be sent off for DOGSO — handling the ball outside the area, fouling an attacker through-on-goal, or otherwise denying a goal-scoring chance. Until 2016, this was an automatic red.

The 2016 IFAB amendment changed this: if the keeper made a genuine attempt to play the ball, the punishment is now a yellow card + a free kick (or penalty if inside the area). This change was made to reduce the "triple punishment" of penalty + red + suspension. Outside-the-box fouls remain straight reds.

Five recent high-profile goalkeeper red cards:

• Vincent Janssen (Tottenham) → David De Gea's save (2017). A late winner from a goalkeeper red-card-induced reshuffle.
• Jordan Pickford (Everton) vs Liverpool 2020. Yellow upgraded to red after VAR review for endangering an opponent.
• Asier Riesgo (Real Sociedad) 2010. Sent off for handball outside the area in a Champions League match.
• Karl Darlow (Newcastle) 2019. Sent off for a deliberate handball outside the area against Crystal Palace — the team played 75 minutes with 10 men.
• Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool) 2024. Sent off for a foul on a through-ball; Liverpool used substitute keeper Adrián.

A goalkeeper red card is among the worst tactical events in a match for three reasons:

• Loss of an outfielder to make room. The team is now down to 10, AND the outfielder removed is typically a creative or attacking player (managers prioritise keeping defensive shape).
• Loss of distribution. The substitute keeper is often less comfortable with the build-up patterns the team has been using. Pep-style possession football collapses with a backup keeper.
• Loss of communication. The first-choice keeper directs the back-line constantly. A substitute does not have the same trust or rapport.
• Loss of confidence. Teams often concede more goals after a goalkeeper red card than the simple 10v11 disadvantage would predict.