LaLiga’s Rising Red Card Count: A Statistical Overview

Certain seasons tend to take a turn for the worse gradually, while others do so almost suddenly. The current season falls into the latter category. Before even reaching the halfway point of the calendar, LaLiga has already recorded over 60 expulsions. Specifically, there have been 65 red cards issued across 219 matches, a figure that not only leads the five major European leagues but also indicates a potential end-of-season total significantly above the norm.

If this pace continues, the season could conclude with around 113 red cards. While this wouldn’t set a record for the league, it would still place the 2025-26 season among the top six in LaLiga’s history since the 2008-09 season, according to Opta’s records. This is no small detail, considering that a review of the past reveals a striking trend: the five highest annual expulsion totals belong to LaLiga. Spain not only issues a considerable number of red cards but also sets the continental benchmark.

The current statistics align perfectly with this historical narrative. Following the dramatic spike in the 2022-23 season, which saw 137 red cards, last season was relatively subdued. In contrast, the current campaign shows a noticeable increase in disciplinary actions, occurring early and at a sustained pace.

When compared to other major leagues, LaLiga leaves little room for doubt regarding its volume of red cards. With 65 expulsions, it surpasses Ligue 1 (54), Serie A (33), Bundesliga (31), and the Premier League (27). The gap with England, for instance, suggests a projected difference of nearly 40 expulsions by the end of the season.

Context is crucial here. The Bundesliga and Ligue 1 (since the French format change in 2023-24) have shorter seasons, capped at a maximum of 306 matches, which limits their potential totals. Thus, it is also important to consider the rate of expulsions. In this regard, France issues red cards at a slightly faster rate per match, but Spain compensates with a longer competitive calendar. In other words, LaLiga not only expels players frequently; it has more opportunities to do so.

The outcome is sustained leadership in this category. Italy and Germany remain in an intermediate zone, far from the historic peaks of Spain, while the Premier League operates on a different level entirely, projecting around 40-45 red cards—a structural gap that no longer seems temporary.

The nature of red cards also indicates a trend unique to Spain, where 41 of the 65 expulsions in LaLiga have been direct. This high proportion stands out in the European context. France matches this number of direct red cards but has fewer matches played and a shorter overall calendar.

If the current distribution holds, LaLiga could close the season with slightly over 70 direct red cards, a figure that again aligns with its recent historical trends. The 2022-23 season saw the highest total of direct expulsions in the league’s history. While this season may not reach such heights, it is nonetheless positioned in the upper range.

It is not merely a question of quantity but also of profile. The prevalence of direct red cards indicates more intense matches, more borderline actions, and less scope for gradual disciplinary management.

This pattern is consistent even when looking at broader statistics. LaLiga also leads in yellow cards, both in total volume and in average per match, exceeding four per game, ahead of other major leagues.

Historically, this is not a new phenomenon. The highest peaks of cautions in the league are concentrated in Spain. The conclusion is evident: when the disciplinary bar is raised, LaLiga tends to elevate it collectively—more warnings, more second yellows, more direct expulsions.

Viewed from a broader perspective, the current season is not an anomaly; rather, it is a reactivation. After several years of fluctuations, LaLiga is once again approaching its higher thresholds. Although not reaching the extremes of the late 2010s, it is at a level that distinctly sets it apart from the rest.

The data indicates that the Spanish league does not view these figures as exceptions; they are part of its historical identity. The 2025-26 season, if the course remains unchanged, will be yet another chapter in this ongoing narrative. It may not be the most red-tinged season, but it will undoubtedly reaffirm that when LaLiga ignites, it does so more than any other league.