Who Received The Fastest Red Card In English Premier League History

The fastest red card in English Premier League history was shown to Sheffield United winger Keith Gillespie. The Northern Irishman’s record can never be beaten. There are other instances where players have been sent off before a match started or before play restarted after a substitution. However, Gillespie is the only player to be sent off in the Premier League after zero seconds.

Only four players have been sent off less than a minute after entering the pitch. Three of those were substitutes. One clumsy goalkeeper makes the list. Strangely enough, none of the usual suspects make the list; none of the dirtiest players or notorious hardmen, though some came close. SportsBoom trawled the archives, ranking the top 10 fastest red cards in the Premier League.

Steven Gerrard (third) was one of the best midfield tacklers in world football. Gerrard is also one of the most red-carded players in Premier League history, having been sent off six times during his illustrious Anfield career. 

No other footballer on the top 10 fastest red cards in Premier League history list has received more reds than the legendary Liverpool captain. However, Gerrard is not alone in having a rush of blood to the head, or a moment of madness. These are the Premier League stories of the fastest red cards in football in England’s top division. 

10. Kevin Miralles, Swansea City v Everton, September 19, 2013 (136 seconds)

Kevin Miralles makes this infamous list of fastest red cards in English Premier League history. Mirallas’ red card came after he went over the ball and into Modou Barrow. Referee Stuart Atwell produced a straight red. The Belgium international was a stoppage-time replacement for Ross Barkley but could not see the game out. 

9. Juan Foyth, Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur, May 4, 2019 (133 seconds)

Juan Foyth received the fastest red card in the Premier League since Gerrard’s Old Trafford meltdown in 2015. The Tottenham Hotspur player came on early in the second half against Bournemouth to protect Toby Alderweireld from a second yellow card. However, a moment of madness saw Foyth produce a horrific challenge on Jack Simpson. Bournemouth went on to score a 91st-minute winner to break Spurs hearts. 

8. David Meyler, Portsmouth v Sunderland, January 20, 2007 (115 seconds)

Referee Kevin Friend showed three red cards in a feisty, ill-tempered affair. David Meyler was red-carded for an elbow to Steve Finnan’s head after a challenge for a high ball. The game ended with Aruna Dindane’s 96th-minute leveller to add to the drama and earn Pompey a draw. 

Portsmouth, however, would not beat the tax man. The club was relegated to the bottom tier of English football after three winding-up orders led to liquidation, all within seven years of being in the Premier League. Play up Pompey, Pompey play up!

7. Andreas Johansson, Arsenal v Wigan Athletic, May 7, 2006 (90 seconds)

Andreas Johannson made an immediate impact during Wigan’s away game to Arsenal on the final day of the 2005/6 Premier League season. It was the Gunners’ last-ever match at Highbury Stadium before moving to new pastures. Johannson spent barely a minute and a half on the famous North London turf. Without touching the ball, he brought down Freddie Ljungberg in the box to send Arsenal on their way to victory. 

6. Craig Dawson (Gareth McAuley), Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion, March 21, 2015 (89 seconds)

The most bizarre sending off on the list happened in 2015 when Gareth McAuley was sent off for taking out Wilfried Bony, who was clean through on goal. In a case of mistaken identity, referee Neil Swarbrick mixed up McAuley with team-mate Craig Dawson, sending-off the wrong centre-back. 

Dawson committed the foul on the Manchester City forward, denying Bony a goal-scoring opportunity; however, McAuley went for an early shower. Two days later, an FA Independent Regulatory Commission overturned McAuley’s card and transferred the red to Dawson. 

5. Tim Flowers, Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers, February 1, 1995 (72 seconds)

The 1994/95 Premier League-winning Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Tim Flowers, is the only goalie to make this ill-famed list of reckless behaviour. Flowers misjudged a challenge on Leeds striker Brian Deane, who attempted to round Flowers but fouled by the ‘keeper’s outstretched leg. Blackburn earned a draw, which would help them to a famous first top-flight title since 1914, edging Manchester United by one point. 

4. Alexandre Jankewitz, Manchester United v Southampton, February 2, 2021 (70 seconds)

Alexandre Jankewitz saw red seconds after Southampton kicked off against United. The 19-year-old, making only his second appearance for the Saints. Jankewitz stomped Scott McTominay above the knee, and was rightly red-carded, Southampton’s night deteriorated as United trounced them 9-0. 

3. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool v Manchester United, March 22, 2015 (38 seconds)

Steven Gerrard, playing his final game against Manchester United, tried to make an immediate impact from the bench. Instead, his frustration at being used as a substitute by manager Brendan Rodgers got the better of him. Gerrard raced onto the field and won the ball with a crunching tackle on Juan Mata. 

United cleared, only for Gerrard to mistime a challenge on Ander Herrera before stamping on Herrera’s outstretched leg. Referee Martin Atkinson unceremoniously red-carded him, to the delight and jeers of the Stretford End.

2. Dave Kitson, Manchester United v Reading, August 12, 2007 (37 seconds) 

Dave Kitson, like Gerrard, made a reckless lunge, seconds after being subbed onto the field. Kitson did not touch the ball during his whirlwind time on the Old Trafford pitch. Instead, the fiery redhead went in studs up on United defender Patrice Evra, clattering the Frenchman on the shin.