In Olympic soccer, a red card signifies that a player has committed a serious violation of the rules, resulting in their ejection from the match. The consequences of receiving a red card include the following:
Immediate Ejection: The player who receives a red card must leave the field immediately and cannot participate in the remainder of that match.
Team Advantage: The team of the player who is sent off must continue the match with one fewer player, creating a numerical disadvantage.
Suspension: Depending on the severity of the infraction, a player receiving a red card may also face further disciplinary action, which can include suspension from subsequent matches in the tournament.
Reasons for Red Cards: Common reasons for receiving a red card include violent conduct, serious foul play, using abusive or insulting language, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by handling the ball or committing a foul, and receiving a second yellow card in the same match (which also results in a red card).
The enforcement of these rules is consistent with the Laws of the Game as established by FIFA, the governing body of international soccer. In the context of the Olympics, where soccer is one of the featured sports, the same principles apply.