Quickest red card in football history: The incredible 0-second record that may never be broken

Even without a single tick of the clock, some individuals managed to carve their names into the annals of sporting infamy. It is hard to believe, but in exactly zero seconds, a player once secured the record for the quickest red card in football history. This staggering achievement, while far from proud, serves as the centerpiece for this Flashscoremobi investigation. 

We will revisit moments where the heat of battle overwhelmed the spirit of fair play, the very essence that football strives to uphold. Violent conduct and reckless challenges are common triggers for a referee’s whistle, yet our list features reasons so bizarre they would leave even Sergio Ramos, the legendary "enforcer" of Real Madrid, in utter disbelief.

Top 7 incidents featuring the quickest red card in football history

7. Kaio Wilker - 9 seconds 

During the 2021 Copa do Nordeste, a Brazilian regional tournament, Wilker represented Botafogo-PB against Treze. Only 9 seconds had passed when the midfielder launched a reckless, two-footed aerial lunge that resembled an MMA move rather than a tackle. The referee did not hesitate to brandish red, leaving fans and coaching staff in shock. 

Botafogo-PB struggled with 10 men and ultimately lost the match 1-0. Wilker, who was released by the club later that year, has played for various Brazilian sides including Ypiranga and Itabaiana. 

6. Togo Sukuwara - 9 seconds 

At number 6, we find Sukuwara in the J-League 2. During a 2009 clash between Tokyo Verdy and Sagan Tosu, Sukuwara misjudged a pass immediately after the opening whistle. In an attempt to recover, he tripped an opponent charging toward the goal. The official ruled it a "denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity" at the 9-second mark. 

This was a record for Japanese professional football. Tokyo Verdy's tactical plans were ruined instantly, and the midfielder's career, which saw him feature for clubs like Ehime FC, became synonymous with this tactical blunder.

5. Ze Carlos - 7 seconds 

Brazil makes another appearance at number 5 with Carlos. In the 2009 Classico Mineiro between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro, the striker threw a deliberate elbow into the face of Renan Teixeira just 7 seconds in. The referee waited until the 12-second mark to show the card, but the decision was made instantly. 

Carlos later apologized to the devastated Cruzeiro supporters, as the team had to fight their fiercest rivals with a disadvantage from the start. Throughout a career spanning clubs like Sao Paulo and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, where he won the AFC Champions League, Ze Carlos was a prolific scorer but often struggled with his temper. He retired in 2018 at the age of 35 while playing for CRB.

4. David Pratt - 3 seconds 

In a 2008 Southern League Premier Division match against Bashley, Pratt lunged at Chris Knowles 3 seconds after kick-off. Pratt later told The Guardian: "I play with passion... I saw the ball and just went for it." 

Despite the 3-second exit, Chippenham Town showed incredible resilience. Pratt, a prolific striker in the lower tiers of English football, retired from the game at age 34 after scoring over 100 goals for various clubs.

3. Serge Dijehoua - 3 seconds 

Coming in at number 3 is Dijehoua, whose 3-second dismissal in a 2013 Greek Second Division match for Gylfadas against Olympiakos Volos is the most surreal. Entering as a second-half substitute, Dijehoua barely touched the grass before a stray arm caught an opponent. The referee’s decision was so unexpected that Dijehoua left the pitch laughing hysterically. 

2. Lee Todd - 2 seconds 

The runner-up is Todd, who received a red card after just 2 seconds in a 2000 match between Cross Farm Park Celtic and Taunton East Reach Wanderers. After the referee blew a piercingly loud whistle right in his ear, Todd muttered, "F*ck me, that was loud." Refere Peter Kearle, who had just warned players about foul language, sent him off immediately. 

Todd later told The Times: "I wasn't insulting the referee... it nearly blew my ear off." Despite his absence, Cross Farm won the match 11-2. Todd was fined 27 pounds and suspended for 35 days, ending his career with a record that defied common sense.

1. Keith Gillespie - 0 seconds 

In a 2007 Premier League match between Sheffield United and Reading, Gillespie was subbed on in the second half. Before play even resumed from a throw-in, he elbowed Reading's Stephen Hunt. Because the ball was not yet in play, he technically lasted zero seconds of active game time. 

The former Manchester United and Newcastle winger, who earned 80 caps for Northern Ireland, was widely condemned for his "moment of madness." Gillespie retired in 2013 at age 38 with over 400 professional appearances, but this remains the fastest dismissal in the history of the world's most-watched league.

Summary of the fastest red cards in history:

Keith Gillespie (0 seconds) 

Lee Todd (2 seconds)

Serge Dijehoua (3 seconds) 

David Pratt (3 seconds) 

Ze Carlos (7 seconds) 

Togo Sukuwara (9 seconds) 

Kaio Wilker (9 seconds) 

The dismissal of Gillespie is undoubtedly justified due to his overt aggression in the high-stakes environment of the Premier League. However, looking at the other names in this Flashscoremobi.com list of the quickest red card in football history, one cannot help but feel that some players were treated unfairly. Todd’s reaction to a loud noise and Dijehoua’s accidental contact seem more like victims of a lack of "common sense" rather than genuine "butchers" of the game.

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