When should a player be given a red card?

A player is shown a red card primarily for engaging in actions that are harmful or excessively dangerous to other players or the integrity of the game. This includes committing violent conduct, which refers to acts of aggression or physical actions intended to harm another player, and serious foul play, which is defined as any foul that is considered particularly reckless or dangerous, such as a hard tackle in a manner that poses a risk of injury.

Additionally, a player may be sent off with a red card for receiving a second yellow card during the same match. The two yellow cards accumulate to equal one red card, which results in the player’s ejection from the game. This system of awarding red cards is a crucial aspect of maintaining player safety and promoting fair play within soccer.

In contrast, options involving receiving a third yellow card or merely arguing with the referee do not align with the established criteria for a red card. Similarly, while delaying the game can result in disciplinary measures, such actions are typically addressed with yellow cards or warnings rather than a direct red card. Thus, the criteria in the correct answer encompass the most serious violations of the rules that warrant immediate expulsion from the match.