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

Wed Jul 8 12:29:04 UTC 2026

There is for the noun. I didn't mention the noun because I couldn't antedate the OED's cite from 1969.

The verb, from what I can tell and from Garson's find, first appears in the US some years later in coverage of NASL matches.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Dan Goncharoff" <00001bc983129c8b-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 8:13am
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: [ADS-L] "red card" v. (1977)

Not in a position to look right now, but considering the general agreement
that FIFA instituted the red card in 1970, shouldn't there be reference to
it in Britain at that time or before?

DanG

On Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 8:00 AM dave at wilton.net <dave at wilton.net> wrote:

>
> Thanks!
>
> I was aware of the boycott sense, but was focusing on the football one. My
> guess is that the two are senses are separate coinages.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "ADSGarson O'Toole" <00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> >
> Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 12:12am
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [ADS-L] "red card" v. (1977)
>
>
>
> 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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