Why does Juventus receive so many red cards?

28/08/2025 19:29:00 ChampionChatter

In the 83rd minute of the match against Parma in the opening round of the new Serie A season, Andrea Cambiaso swung his arm into an opponent’s face after a very ordinary challenge and was immediately sent off. This marked the third red card Juventus has received in just their last six Serie A matches.

More notably, all three red cards were direct and due to unsportsmanlike conduct—in other words, violent behavior. Kenan Yildiz threw an off-the-ball punch against Monza, Pierre Kalulu elbowed an opponent in the Lazio match at the end of last season, and Cambiaso scratched an opponent’s face in the opening game against Parma. These reprehensible actions not only caused the team to lose players at crucial moments (Cambiaso will miss the Round 3 match against Inter) but also reflect a simmering psychological instability within the "Old Lady" squad.

Performance pressure may be the main cause. Juventus is increasingly expected to reclaim its status, and every match feels like a do-or-die situation. The recent red cards are not the result of tactical fouls but impulsive reactions—sometimes personal—in situations that were not truly tense. Cambiaso publicly apologized, admitting his behavior was "shameful" and unrepresentative of who he is. This confession signals that the players are competing under significant psychological strain. What is puzzling is that, unlike the end of last season when Juve faced enormous pressure in the Top 4 race, Cambiaso lost his temper while Juve was leading Parma 1-0, and this was only the first match of the season.

Three direct red cards in the last six matches indicate that Juventus is under significant stress.

Could there be other factors affecting the players’ mental state? Changes within the squad—especially with Igor Tudor officially appointed as head coach—might have caused some dissatisfaction. Hidden competition, efforts to prove oneself, and tactical instability could make players more prone to agitation when facing adversity on the pitch.

According to the newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus is playing with excessive excitement. If not controlled, this can lead to unprofessional reactions and harm the team. In modern football, emotional control is as vital a skill as technique or fitness. A big club like Juventus cannot allow impulsive behavior to overshadow the goal of winning.

Juventus is a symbol of resilience and pride, but to maintain that image, they must overcome the psychological demons threatening them—not only through victories on the field but also through maturity in conduct and emotional regulation.

V.N

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