England's 21 Red Cards Ranked: From Mullery's Retaliation to Quansah's World Cup Stumble

Getting sent off while having your front teeth knocked out has to rank among the most grim experiences in an England shirt. Yet we're entirely sympathetic to the chap who suffered that particular indignity in what became the nation's first-ever dismissal.

Jarell Quansah picked up the unwanted honour of receiving a red card for the first time in over three years when England secured that stunning World Cup win against Mexico.

What follows is our entirely subjective rundown of all 21 red cards England have accumulated, ranked from the most lenient to the most justified.

21) Trevor Cherry

June 1977 – Argentina 1-1 England

The former Leeds man holds the distinction of being the first England player to see red in a friendly that proved anything but friendly. At La Bombonera, Cherry collected his first caution after going through Daniel Bertoni from behind. Bertoni's response was immediate and brutal – a punch that sent two of Cherry's teeth flying. Both players were dismissed, though the Argentine FA ultimately sided with Cherry, pinning the blame squarely on Bertoni and handing their defender a four-match ban. A rough deal all round, but losing your molars makes this the most wretched of all England send-offs.

20) John Stones

June 2022 – England 0-4 Hungary

Stones arguably suffered the softest dismissal in England's history, booked first for a minor coming-together before collecting a second for the cardinal sin of being run into by an opposing player. With England already trailing 3-0 at Molineux before the final 4-0 hammering – their worst home result since 1928 – the flak landed on Gareth Southgate rather than the defender.

19) Reece James

October 2020 – England 0-1 Denmark

The Chelsea man was sent off on just his third cap for post-match verbals with the referee. A foolish moment, certainly, but Southgate showed faith in the youngster: "He has had an incredible week. The quality of play down the right, he had a fantastic game. It's something that shouldn't have happened, but in the overall week he has had made a positive impression."

18) Steven Gerrard

September 2012 – England 1-1 Ukraine

Gerrard became only the second England captain to be dismissed, joining Beckham in that dubious club after two soft bookings – the second arriving in the dying moments. Gerrard's assessment was pointed: "I don't think there was a bad tackle in the game, was there? And I think the referee's given seven yellow cards."

17) Rob Green

October 2009 – Ukraine 1-0 England

Green remains the sole England goalkeeper to receive his marching orders, punished for Rio Ferdinand's blunder. Ferdinand allowed a 13th-minute long ball to bounce, gifting Artem Milevskiy a clear run on goal. Green ventured from his line, brought the forward down, and was shown the exit. Shevchenko subsequently missed the resulting penalty, but England still went down to defeat.

16) Kyle Walker

September 2020 – Iceland 0-1 England

Two careless cautions – one for a push, another for a reckless lunge – left Southgate operating with ten men for the first time. Walker, to his credit, accepted responsibility: "I have to take the full blame. To make a rash challenge like that is not acceptable. I don't blame the pressure, I am a seasoned professional and I should know how to manage a game."

15) David Beckham

October 2005 – England 1-0 Austria

Beckham made history as the first England player dismissed twice, collecting two cautions within sixty minutes at Old Trafford. The first came for leading with his left arm while jumping for a header; the second for tripping an Austrian attacker sprinting towards the box. Beckham protested both: "The first one was harsh. But the second one was even harsher. Everyone who has seen it has said the same. I couldn't understand it. I don't think it was a sending off at all."

14) Paul Ince

September 1998 – Sweden 2-1 England

Ince followed Beckham into the history books by becoming the second England player dismissed in consecutive matches. The midfielder saw red in Stockholm after Pierluigi Collina brandished yellows in both halves, with the second arriving in the final quarter for a foul on Henrik Larsson.

13) Harry Maguire

October 2020 – England 0-1 Denmark

Maguire was already having a torrid evening before collecting two yellows – first for a late challenge, then for an even later one – to receive his marching orders shortly before Christian Eriksen sealed England's fate. Southgate harboured hopes this marked the nadir of a difficult period for the Manchester United captain.

12) Luke Shaw

March 2023 – Italy 1-2 England

Shaw managed to accumulate two yellow cards in the space of 54 seconds, the first particularly harsh for time-wasting on a throw-in moments after Walker had been similarly cautioned. Within another minute, he hacked down Mateo Retegui from behind as Italy pressed for an equaliser.

12) Alan Smith

October 2002 – England 2-2 Macedonia

Smith's first competitive start ended prematurely when he was sent off in added time at St Mary's for a second booking received for a tackle delivered with the ball already out of play. David Seaman's latest mishap and England's general shambles meant attention shifted away from the midfielder.

10) Raheem Sterling

June 2014 – Ecuador 2-2 England

Sterling became the youngest player sent off for England and the sole substitute to suffer dismissal, his thoughtless challenge so incensing the normally composed Antonio Valencia that the Ecuador man retaliated and followed him down the tunnel.

9) Jarell Quansah

July 2026 – Mexico 2-3 England

The England right-back position carries a World Cup curse, and centre-back Quansah found himself back in the side following a shaky previous outing. The Bayer Leverkusen defender was performing respectably until he thundered through Jesus Gallardo with studs leading unnecessarily. Fortunately, his teammates produced one of the finest finals displays to ensure he escaped scapegoat treatment.

8) Wayne Rooney

October 2011 – Montenegro 2-2 England

Rooney's second England red came via petulance, a needless kick at Miodrag Dzudovic's ankles following a dreadful first touch, with a quarter of an hour still remaining in Podgorica.

7) David Batty

September 1999 – Poland 0-0 England

The Leeds midfielder's late dismissal in a goalless draw featured one of the most characteristically David Batty tackles imaginable. Magnificent.

6) Ray Wilkins

June 1986 – England 0-0 Morocco

Wilkins reacted poorly to a dodgy offside call by hurling the ball in the referee's direction. The ball cannoned off the official's shins, who wasted no time showing Wilkins the red card. Martin Tyler suggested the midfielder had "let his team-mates down."

5) Wayne Rooney

July 2006 – England 0-0 Portugal (Portugal won on pens)

Rooney raked his studs across Ricardo Carvalho's legs in the quarter-final, drawing more opprobrium for Cristiano Ronaldo than for his Manchester United teammate. Shearer, Wright, and Hansen all insisted they couldn't see a clear offence.

4) Paul Scholes

June 1999 – England 0-0 Sweden

Scholes became the first England player sent off on home soil after two bookings in a goalless Wembley encounter. His opening-minute caution alone warranted a straight red.

3) Alan Ball

June 1973 – Poland 2-0 England

Ball, a 1966 World Cup winner, was dismissed during Poland's first qualifying match for the 1974 tournament as England's World Cup hopes evaporated. Ball was defending Martin Peters after being kicked by Leslaw Cmikiewicz, and as he grabbed the Pole around the throat, the referee's hand went to his pocket.

2) David Beckham

June 1998 – England 2-2 Argentina

England's first dismissal in twelve years triggered consequences that reverberated far beyond the World Cup last-16 exit. Beckham faced vilification, effigies hung in his honour, all for a pathetic flick of the boot – scarcely a kick – that Diego Simeone milked shamelessly but which left no mark whatsoever.

1) Alan Mullery

June 1968 – Yugoslavia 1-0 England

The first England player ever sent off departed in the European Championship semi-final, dismissed for retaliation though the Three Lions maintain they were systematically provoked by Yugoslav gamesmanship. Mullery later explained: "Every Yugoslav player that day spent the whole game kicking all of us, but this one guy – Dobrivoje Trivić – he was the worst. He was quite exceptional. We were losing 1-0 with about a minute to go and this coward – and that's what he was, because he wouldn't confront people, he'd just kick them from behind – had a go at me. He raked his studs, whatever they were made of, down my calf. Blood started pouring out, and I just turned around and kicked him in the how's your fathers."