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Player Card Stats May 2023 – Constantly Updated

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Last Updated on: 11.05.2023

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TPP Player Cards Statistics Table

With 14 cup competitions, 32 leagues and thousands of players available, our constantly updated football player card stats table is the perfect way to add value to all your card bets. It also allows you to filter by competition, team, or player by yellow cards and red cards.

Apart from the goal-scoring figures, we also provide top-notch football statistics for the below:

Player Stats

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Profit & Loss Stats

Streaks & Trends

Player Cards Statistics

The table above shows an overview of all yellow and red cards received by players during the season. It can be filtered by club, league or competition, player or position on the pitch.

Player card stats are a great tool to find out which players have behaved the dirtiest and who would be a wise choice to place bets on. We recommend using the ‘yellow cards per 90‘ to see how often a player is cautioned. Note that defensive players tend to get lower odds, so a striker who is frequently cautioned could prove to be very valuable.

Filtering by competition could also provide additional information. Players are sometimes brought in for cup matches and could play in a more advanced or defensive role, meaning you could capitalise on this change.

Our tables are some of the most comprehensive available, and chances are we have the data you are looking for. Below we've listed all the leagues and competitions we offer in order of league coefficient.

Yellow & Red Cards Explained

The cards as we know and fear them today date back to the 1970 World Cup, when physical cards were introduced to give players a clear way to communicate a warning without the referee having to speak the same language. They have been an essential part of football ever since.

But what do yellow and red cards represent? Well, a yellow card is shown to a player as a warning to let them know that they are playing unfairly or dangerously.

Players can receive a red card in two ways: firstly by receiving two yellow cards, which is equivalent to a red card; the other is if the player does something so grievous that it warrants a straight red card. Both of these result in a player being sent off the pitch immediately.

Players may be punished with a yellow or red card for the following incidents:

  • Disrespect towards the opponent (for example, insults, fighting)
  • Unsafe play (such as reckless challenges)
  • Showing dissent (like arguing with referees)
  • Unsporting behaviour (handballs, diving, etc.)

Each of these examples applies to both cards, depending on the severity. For example, an accidental handball may result in a yellow card, but deliberately grabbing a ball to prevent a goal (for outfield players) is a straight red.

Betting on Player Cards

Betting on cards has now become a more common market to participate in, and it’s relatively simple at that. Of course, there are a few ways to go about betting on player cards, but let's take a look at the most popular ones.

Player to be booked
The first betting option, which is the most frequently used of the three, is 'anytime player to be booked', and it does what it says on the tin. All you have to do is select a player who you think will be dealt a card at any time during the game.

The odds here are the lowest of the three, but are still good value, ranging from 1.5/1 to 8/1 before a match has started, and depending on the player. The odds will also fluctuate for all in-play card betting bets.

Player to be sent off
Another simple bet — but much more difficult to predict — is the red card bet, where you bet on a player being sent off during the match. This can be two yellow cards or a straight red card (unless specifically stated otherwise).

The higher risk of betting on a sending-off is reflected in the odds, which range from 25/1 to 100/1 when placing the bets prior to the match starting.

The first player to be booked
Choosing the first player to be booked is a surprisingly difficult task. The main reason for this is that it only happens once per game, at any time and for any player. The way it works is the same as regular yellow card betting, but a rash foul play can lead to a win or a loss within a few minutes.

The odds reflect the additional risk compared to any time betting, and usually pre-match odds range from 7/1 to 35/1.

Which Leagues Do We Offer Player Card Stats For?

Cup Competitions

Top five Leagues

Rest of Europe

  • Holland – Eredivisie
  • Portugal – Primeira Liga
  • Belgium – First Division A
  • Scotland – Premiership, League One & League Two
  • Austria – A-League
  • Turkey – Süper Lig
  • Switzerland – Super League
  • Ukraine – 1. Liga
  • Norway – Eliteserien
  • Russia – Premier Liga
  • Greece – Superleague
  • Sweden – Allsvenskan
  • Finland – Veikkausliiga

Rest of the World

  • Brazil – Serie A
  • Argentina – Premiera Division
  • USA – MLS
  • Australia - A League

Player Cards Betting Tips & Predictions

Although player card betting is a particularly unpredictable market, there are some pointers you should follow to make more accurate predictions in future bets.

  • The nature of the game — More cards are usually shown in derbies — important games where emotions run high could have the same effect.
  • The style of play of a player — Some players are known to be aggressive. Granit Shaka is a good example.
  • A player's position on the pitch — Defenders are most likely to engage in dangerous tackling, and defensive midfielders are also known to commit professional fouls to protect the defense.
  • Personal vendetta towards a club or player — A player can be more ruthless when playing against a team they don't like. Think Jamie Vardy famously breaking the corner flag after scoring against Sheffield United.
  • How many cards the player has already received in previous matches — If a player is in danger of being suspended for the next game, he might be more cautious. On the other hand, he might purposefully get a yellow card, miss the next game, and reset the counter if it's an easy next match.

Player Card Records

Although yellow and red cards are dished out fairly and impartially, there are some players who are synonymous with receiving them. They can be rough and tough like Vinnie Jones and Pepe or simply masters of the professional foul like Gareth Barry.

Let's take a look at some of the most devious footballers in history!

Most Yellow Cards in League History

LeaguePlayerYellow Cards
All timeGerardo Torrado228
La LigaSergio Ramos172
Ligue 1Cyril Rool151
Serie AGiampiero Pinzi150
Premier LeagueGareth Barry123
BundesligaStefan Effenberg121

Most Red Cards in League History

LeaguePlayerRed Cards
All TimeGerardo Bedoya46
La LigaSergio Ramos20
Ligue 1Cyril Rool18
Serie APaolo Montero15
Premier LeagueRichard Dunne
Duncan Ferguson
Patrick Vieira		8
BundesligaJens Nowotny
Luiz Gustavo		8

Sergio Ramos and Cyril Rool are the only two players to appear in both lists — true hardmen.

Premier League-Specific Records

  • Most yellow cards in a single season: 14 — Etienne Capoue (18/19), Jose Holebas (16/17), Lee Cattermole (14/15), Cheick Tiote (10/11), Robbie Savage (01/02), Mark Hughes (98/99)
  • Most red cards in a single season: 3 — Victor Wanyama (15/16), Wes Brown (13/14). Franck Queudrue (02/03), Craig Short (01/02), David Batty (97/98)
  • Fastest yellow card: 5 seconds — Vinnie Jones (91/92)
  • Fastest red card: 13 seconds — Kevin Pressman (00/01)
  • First Premier League manager to receive a card: Pep Guardiola (2019/20)
*Disclaimer – Cards records mentioning players that have played prior to the mid 2000s may not be completely accurate or consistent due to the lack of detailed statistics at that time.

Player Card History

The idea of cautions and sending-offs in football is nothing new, and this has been the case since the 1880s. In the wake of the sport's worldwide success, more and more international matches and competitions were played, which led to a number of communication problems.

During a 1966 World Cup match, the English referee Ken Aston sent off the Argentine captain, who then refused to leave the pitch as he had no idea what Aston was telling him. This led to the idea of the first official yellow and red card, which was later introduced at the 1970 World Cup.

The cards were, by and large, a great success, with the exception of the UK. In the 1970s and 1980s, violent clashes between fans became more frequent, partly due to referees handing out red cards because they wanted to show off. In 1981, it was decided to remove red cards from the league. However, this measure didn't bring about any effective change.

Red cards returned to English football in the 1987/88 season, and they remain a huge part of the sport to this day. Matches are won and lost through cautions and sending-offs, adding extra tension to the games.

Famous Player Cards

Sometimes, cards have the capacity to become classic moments in sport, often becoming synonymous with a particular player or game. Here are some of our top picks for the most famous red and yellow cards:

Georgio Chiellini - Euro 2020 Final - Yellow Card
The most recent inclusion, and one which will sting for English fans . A brilliant run from Bakayo Saka saw him shrug off Chiellini at the halfway line. Chiellini, knowing he would never catch up to the Englishman, grabbed onto the back of his shirt, pulling him down.

Saka was denied a great chance to score, and Chiellini’s men managed to hang on for the rest of the match, winning the European Championship on penalties.

Luis Suarez - World Cup 2010 Quarter-final - Red Card
Uruguay and Ghana faced off in a thrilling match with many twists and turns. 1-1 by the 55th minute, both teams remained composed, eventually reaching the 90-minute mark, sending the tie to extra time. In the 120th minute, a scramble in the Uruguay box led to Luis Suarez blocking a header — which would have surely gone in — with his hands, receiving a red card.

This turned out to be a controversial masterstroke as Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty in the last kick of the game, taking the match to penalties which Uruguay eventually won.

Zinedine Zidane - World Cup 2006 Final - Red Card
Probably the most infamous red card ever; this may not even need an explanation. Deep into extra time of the World Cup final between France and Italy, Zidane, seemingly out of nowhere, turned around, headbutting Marco Materazzi square in the chest.

He was sent off, and France went on to lose the World Cup final on penalties.

Eric Cantona - Premier League 1995 - Red Card
Possibly the greatest red card in English football and definitely an iconic moment in the Premier League era. Eric Cantona had been receiving abuse from Crystal Palace fans for much of the match. This reached a boiling point after a nasty tacky by Cantona, resulting in even more abuse.

The constant scorning by Palace fans was too much for the Frenchman, who ran up to a particular supporter, Kung fu kicking him in the chest; he got up to continue fighting but was wrestled away from the fan, receiving a red card for his troubles.

Player Card FAQs

The most common betting markets are ‘any time to receive a yellow or red card’, and ‘1st to receive a card in a match’.
Yes, you can bet on any number of players receiving a card — as individual bets or in a bet builder. Remember that, on average, not that many yellow cards are given out during a match.
Generally speaking, 3-4 cards are given out per match. In the Premier League, the average amount is 3.81.
Gerardo Torrado has received the most yellow cards of all time, picking up 228 over the span of his career. Gerardo Bedoya has received the most red cards of all time, a staggering 46 in total.

ThePuntersPage Final Say

Betting on yellow cards has become a lucrative betting market, offering high odds — even for players notorious for receiving cards. However, the best way to create well-valued bets is to do thorough research, and the player card stats page is the perfect way to get all the information you need. Don't forget to check out our other brilliant stats pages to keep you up to date!

References

All competitions and football leagues in the world (est.2023) BeSoccer. Available at: https://www.besoccer.com/competitions.

Premier League player stats – yellow cards (est.2023) Premier League Player Stats – Yellow cards. Available at: https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/yellow_card.

Bundesliga: Statistics 2022-2023: Players: Yellow cards (est.2023) bundesliga.com – the official Bundesliga website. Available at: https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/stats/players/yellow-cards.

Jeremy Sant Fournier
Written by Jeremy Sant Fournier View all posts by Jeremy

Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.

jeremy@thepunterspage.com