Fans, players, teams and coaches dread red cards as they often have an instant impact on the game.
Coaches are often forced to make unplanned substitutions and changes in tactics.
TeamKenya.co.ke looks at six legends who were sent off in a FIFA World Cup match.
Luis Suarez
The former Barcelona and Liverpool goal machine deliberately handled the ball in a match pitting Uruguay against Ghana in the 2010 Quarter Finals.
Suarez was sent off while Ghana was awarded a penalty. Asamoah Gyan, however, failed to score. Uruguay won the game on penalties.
Also Read: Ghana Signs 5 Players From Europe Ahead of World Cup
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney, one of England’s greatest strikers was sent off in a FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash against Portugal. The Three Lions goal poacher was embroiled in an ugly confrontation with then Manchester United teammate, Christiano Ronaldo who he accused of influencing the referee.
Rooney had stamped on Portuguese midfielder Ricardo Carvalho in the 61st minute while fighting for the ball.
The match ended in a stalemate but Portugal won 3-1 on penalties.
Also Read: Drinkwater Opens Up on Mistreatment at Stamford Bridge
Thierry Henry
The Arsenal legend was sent off at the 2002 FIFA World Cup match against South American side Uruguay. Henry made a reckless two-footed challenge on Uruguayan Marcelo Romero.
Fabien Barthez’s heroic display in the final moments of the match ensured France survived Uruguay’s constant attack.
David Beckham
David Beckham’s red card in a round of 16 clash against Argentina in 1998 saw English fans turn against him.
Beckham made a childish challenge on Argentina skipper Diego Simeone two minutes after the start of the second half. He reacted angrily before kicking the current Atletico Madrid head coach.
With the match ending 2-2, Argentina defeated England 4-3 to proceed to the quarter-finals.
Zinedine Zidane
At the 2006 FIFA World Cup staged in Germany, France captain, Zinedine Zidane was sent off by Argentine referee Horacia Marcelo Elizondo.
With the match tied at 1-1, Zidane lost his head in the 110th minute, headbutting Italian defender, Marco Materazzi.
Elizondo consulted one of the linesmen before sending Zidane off. Both Materazzi and Zidane had scored in the match.
Italy went on to clinch the world cup title in post-match penalties after France's David Trezeguet’s spot-kick hit the crossbar.
Diego Maradona
The late Diego Maradona, was sent off in a 1982 world cup match.
In his world cup debut against their South American rivals Brazil, the former Napoli star kicked Joao Batista da Silva after the latter had fouled his teammate
Brazil won the match 3-1.