[Ads-l] "red card" v. (1977)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Interesting topic, Dave and Rich. Here is a 1975 citation for the verb
form of "red card" in the soccer domain.

Date: August 16, 1975
Newspaper: The Tampa Tribune
Newspaper Location: Tampa, Florida
Article: Do Rowdies Know Way To San Jose?
Author: Jim Henderson (Tribune Sports Writer)
Quote Page C1, Column 4
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-redcarding/201179320/

[Begin excerpt]
Mr. Hill is Gordon Hill, the referee for the match. Hill is reputed to
be one of the best in the world.

"Mr. Hill is liable to start red-carding everyone if it gets out of
hand," said Myers, "and what we might end up having is a one-on-one.
[End excerpt]

Rich mentioned "red card" applied to stores. The OED does have the
boycott sense with a 1935 citation.

[Begin OED excerpt]
red-card verb
1. transitive. U.S. To boycott (a retailer) for breaking a pricing
agreement; to exclude. Now rare.

1935 The Guild had decided to require new pledges from retailers on
the extension of style protection to all price lines and to ‘red card’
those refusing to sign.
New York Times 8 December f9/3
[End OED excerpt]

I found an instance of the verb form of "red card" in 1910. If a
bartender is "red carded" by the police board of Kansas City, then
that person cannot work as a bartender in Kansas City.

Date: November 10, 1910
Newspaper: The Kansas City Journal
Newspaper Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Article: MARKS'S PLAN IS OPPOSED
Quote Page 5, Column 3
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/kansas-city-journal-redcarded/201180009/

[Begin excerpt]
Thos. Galligher, Bartender, Not to Be
"Red Carded" Without Hearing.

Thomas Galligher, a bartender for George Elam at 302 Main street, who
had been told that he could not work anywhere in Kansas City at his
occupation, appeared before the police board yesterday to ask the
reason why.

"I simply say,' said Thomas R. Marks, "that Galligher cannot work in
any saloon in Kansas City. I have my reasons for it."

"Well,' replied Solon T. Gilmore, "I want to say that he can work any
saloon in Kansas City until he is 'red carded' by this board, and I
say further that Galligher will not be 'red carded' with my consent
until he has had a fair hearing before this board. I don't believe in
this system of depriving men of their right to earn a living simply on
one-sided testimony, I want both sides of the case before I act."
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Tue, Jul 7, 2026 at 12:41 PM Rich Lowenthal
<000018596069864c-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> It's obviously not association football usage, but the term long
> predates the seventies, although I'm not clear on the origin of the
> phrase.
>
> New York Times, 14 February 1936. "PUSH DRESS GUILD DRIVE./More Stores
> Will be 'Red-Carded' Today, Chairman Says."
>
> 'Resolutions strengthening the enforcement of the program of the Fashion
> Originators Guild of America were adopted yesterday at a meeting of the
> board of governors of the guild, it was announced last night by Maurice
> Rentner, chairman.
>
> 'He said that additional "red cards" will be issued today on more stores
> which are not carrying out the declaration of cooperation with the
> guild. Under its style protection and enforcement program, manufacturer
> members are not permitted to sell merchandise to retailers who are
> "red-carded." Announcement has been made that members have received red
> cards on three stores.'
>
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> From "dave at wilton.net" <dave at WILTON.NET>
> To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Date 7/7/2026 11:58:44 AM
> Subject "red card" v. (1977)
>
> >
> >OED has 1979.
> >
> >Chase, Al. “TH Sees Red in Rough Loss.” Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Hawaii), 2 July 1977, 11/1. Newspapers.com.
> >
> >“A playoff spot for Team Hawaii may have been red carded into oblivion last night. […] Three TH players were sent off (red carded) by referee Henry Landauer.”
> >
> >
> >“Frostburg Leads in Soccer Meet.” Cumberland Sunday Times (Maryland), 11 September 1977, 46/8. NewspaperArchive.com.
> >
> >“Gannon had been ‘red-carded’ midway through the final half, and under new rules the red-carded player, who is ejected, cannot be replaced in the lineup.”
> >
> >
> >Haney, Greg. “Rogues Come Up Short in 3rd Loss.” Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee). 15 April 1978, 25/1. Newspapers.com.
> >
> >“The ‘red carding’ of Birchenall with 43:73 gone in the 45-minute first half forced the Rogues to play with 10 men—one player short—the rest of the game.”
> >
> >
> >
> >Henderson, Joe. “Robb’s Departure Defused Rowdies.” Tampa Tribune (Florida), 1 May 1978, 6-C/3. Newspapers.com.
> >
> >“Jago said there was no question that Robb’s red carding defused the Rowdies.
> >
> >“‘That decision turned the whole game,’ Jago said. ‘For that offense, (red carding) was a bit harsh. It turned the whole game. He (Robb) is a rogueish sort of player, but he’s not dirty.’”
> >
> >
> >Associated Press. “Campbell Leads Whitecaps to 4–0 Victory.” El Paso Times (Texas), 11 August 1978. 6-D/2. ProQuest Newspapers.
> >
> >“Toronto, which lodged a protest following the game, finished the contest with only nine men on the field after Sead Susic and Marko Vujkovic were red-carded by referee Gino D’Ippolito.”
> >
> >
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