South African star handed first pink card of World Cup after ‘clear sending off’
The first red card of the 2026 World Cup has been brandished to Yaya Sithole after a clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity
Yaya Sithole has been handed the first red card of the 2026 World Cup after he was given his marching orders for denial of a goal scoring opportunity.
Bafana Bafana were already one goal down when a perfectly timed through ball found the path of Brian Gutierrez. However, before the Mexican could get his shot away, Sithole clattered into the back of him, bringing him to the ground.
Wilton Sampaio was left in little doubt and quickly brandished the red card, prompting Ally McCoist to say: “Deary me…Yaya Sithole is trying to stop, but the fact of the matter is he catches him and down Brian Gutierrez goes!”
Chris Sutton, over on BBC 5 Live, added: “It must be a red. He’s onside. The run was perfectly timed. Intelligent from Brian Gutierrez!”
However, football fans were split over the decision, with some stating it was clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity. But others thought it was unfair: “The player has run across him and kicked his leg back to get any sort of contact. Very much against the spirit of the game!”
“Never understood the logic of getting a red card as a last man with so many minutes left to play in the game. Surely it makes more sense allowing the player to get the shot off,” another questioned.
And it would go from bad to worse for South Africa as Raul Jimenez crowned his glorious career with a powerful header.
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