England's Player Disciplinary Record

Notes

England did not have a man sent off until their 424th match in 1968.  Three more were expelled over the next 30 years, and what was truly a magnificent disciplinary record stood at four expulsions in the 749 matches played through 26 June 1998.

But in England's next 12 matches over a little more than a year, the total doubled as four more were sent off, one of them the first England player to be expelled on home soil.   For the first time, England had two men sent off during the same season--in European Championship qualifying matches against the same opponent, Sweden.  And for the first time England had players sent off in consecutive seasons, indeed, in three consecutive seasons.   

When Paul Scholes committed two yellow card foul tackles against Sweden in 1999, he became the first England player to be expelled on home soil and  thus the first at Wembley Stadium.  Since Old Wembley has now been demolished to make way for a new national stadium, Scholes will retain that dubious distinction:  the only England player sent off in the 223 matches England played there.

A respite followed, but it was short.  In the second match of England's very next European Championship qualification campaign, against FYR Macedonia on 16 October 2002, the young yet often-disciplined striker Alan Smith was expelled for a second foul tackle, this one coming in time added on at match's end and, absurdly, after the ball already had crossed the touch line.  Smith thus became the second England player to be sent off on home soil, but this time at Southampton's new St. Mary's Stadium.

10 of the 11 expulsions occurred in competitive play.  Three came in final tournaments, all in the World Cup.  Seven came in qualifying competitions, two in the World Cup and four in the European Championship.  One came in a friendly match.  Seven occurred in matches played in June/July at the end of the season and two in matches played in September at the beginning of the season.  One in October.  Eight occurred in away matches, only three at home.   

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With thanks to reader Chris Murphy for pointing out by e-mail note of 28 December 2002  that  more attention should be given in the notes to Paul Scholes' "dubious distinction" as the only England player sent off in an international at Wembley Stadium.

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PY/CG