As of March, the Premier League is witnessing one of its most volatile seasons in history. Referees have been busier than ever, brandishing red cards at a rate that has left managers fuming and fans in disbelief.
Whether you're tracking the "Bad Boys" of the 25/26 season or looking back at the historical "enforcers," here is everything you need to know about red cards in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s Record-Breaking Disciplinary Woes
The headlines this season have been dominated by the discipline—or lack thereof—at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea Red Cards 25/26: Following Pedro Neto’s dismissal in late February 2026, Chelsea have now received 9 red cards in the Premier League this season.
The Record: This is officially the most red cards any team has received in a single Premier League campaign, surpassing the previous record of 8 (shared by Sunderland and Leicester City).
The Cost: Statistically, the "Blues" have earned only 5 points from a possible 27 in matches where they have seen red.
Most Red Cards in a Single Game
While 2026 has been chaotic, the history books hold even wilder stories.
Premier League Record: The record for the most red cards in a single PL match was set (or matched) recently in the February 2025 Merseyside Derby (Everton vs.
Liverpool), which saw 4 red cards—all of which were famously handed out after the final whistle following a mass brawl. One-Team Record: Five clubs share the record for most reds in a game for a single team (3).
These include Arsenal (v Chelsea, 2015), Sunderland (v Hull, 2013), and Newcastle (v Aston Villa, 2005—the infamous Bowyer vs. Dyer fight). World Record: The all-time world record occurred in an Argentinian fifth-tier match in 2011, where referee Damian Rubino sent off 36 people, including all players, substitutes, and coaches.
Historical "Enforcers": The 8-Card Club
When discussing the most red-carded players in Premier League history, three names stand alone at the top of the mountain. These are the only three players to have received 8 red cards in their PL careers:
Patrick Vieira (Arsenal/Man City)
Richard Dunne (Everton/Man City/Villa/QPR)
Duncan Ferguson (Everton/Newcastle)
Is Caicedo a "Bad Boy"?
Despite his aggressive style, Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo has a relatively clean record compared to the legends above, Caicedo has 2 career red cards in the Premier League, one of which came during this current 25/26 season.
The Weird Fixtures and Teams
Most Red Carded Fixture: The Merseyside Derby (Everton vs.
Liverpool) remains the undisputed "dirtiest" fixture in Premier League history, with over 25 red cards shown since 1992. Club History: Globally, Lazio holds the record for the most red cards in Europe's top five leagues (over 380), while Everton holds the all-time record for the most red cards in Premier League history (over 107).
2025/26 Disciplinary Leaderboard
| Team | Red Cards (25/26) | Leading "Offender" |
| Chelsea | 9 | Marc Cucurella / Pedro Neto |
| Tottenham | 5 | Cristian Romero (2) |
| West Ham | 4 | Lucas Paquetá |
| Everton | 4 | Michael Keane |
Fast Facts
Most Reds in One Season (Player): The record is 3, shared by several players including Vinnie Jones and Slaven Bilić.
Current Trend: Cristian Romero is currently the only player in the 25/26 season with more than one red card (2).