This weekend saw the joint fastest ever red card in English pro football with Shrewsbury’s John Marquis sent off after 13 seconds.
The incident occurred after Shrewsbury kicked off and played the ball forward, with Marquis catching Peterborough defender Sam Hughes with an elbow when jumping up for the ball.
Referee Martin Woods promptly issued the red card, marking Marquis’ first dismissal in four years. This equalled the record previously set by Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Kevin Pressman, who was sent off after 13 seconds in a 2000 match against Wolverhampton Wanderers for handling the ball outside his penalty area.
The game ended in a 3-1 defeat for Shrewsbury, who sit bottom of League One with 27 points from 34 games played, 8 points from safety, but some teams above them have games in hand. Peterborough are 17th with 37 points from 33 games.
The joint fastest red card in English professional football & a goal directly from a corner! 🤯
John Marquis was sent off just 13 seconds after kick-off for Shrewsbury, then 8 minutes later Peterborough’s Tayo Edun scored straight from a corner kick #pufc | #salop | @EFL pic.twitter.com/jUCF5qZKxb
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025
Shrewsbury boss Gareth Ainsworth said, per Shropshire Star: “It is never a dull moment, I am really proud again.
“In my opinion there are a few decisions out of our control that determined the result today.
“First of all I don’t think it is a red card that early on. I think John has tried to put his arm across the centre half rather than leading with it and trying to whack him.
“You have got to use your common sense a bit and think yes it’s a bit dangerous, yellow card. Not straight red.
“But, then with the corner they score the ball is unbelievably out of play. It goes a yard out and that goes against us.
“Lastly, after we get one penalty, you are allowed to give two. It is a blatant penalty on George Lloyd.
“It is just going against us.”
Gareth Ainsworth on today’s defeat 🗣️
⚪️🟠 #Salop pic.twitter.com/L6j3M7guMS
— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsburytown) March 1, 2025
The Shrewsbury boss added that Marquis was “devastated” in the dressing room: “I said ‘look okay it happens you haven’t meant to get sent off, the referee has made that call, but we can get back in this game’.”
“I thought George was fantastic up front running the line,” he added.
“If there is one side that you don’t want to go down to 10-men against then it is Darren Ferguson’s team.
“I thought there were a couple of things that determined that result.”
“We should hit the target on a couple of shots,” he continued.
“We worked the keeper on one occasion but there are two more where we should.
“But, that first half performance, we really rolled our sleeves up and said we are not going to accept this and 10-men after 30 seconds or even 10 seconds.
“We’re not going to lie down and let anyone turn us over.
“The reaction, I am hoping that every Shrewsbury Town fan goes ‘that was great’.
“Before the start of the week with these three games I would have taken six points. This just means the boys have got to win the next two.”
Fans reacted at the joint fastest ever red card in English pro football with John Marquis sent off after 13 seconds…
@OfficialScottyT: This will almost certainly be rescinded. Absolutely shocking decision, by the ref.
@Eljefereynsy: Referees getting worst, never a red card
@Elliothompson02: Referee woke up and decided it was all about him today. Buzzing with his work when he goes home.
@peterbellamy: Has a look and then goes in with his arm. What was he expecting. 🤦♂️
@_benhtfc: fair play to the ref, can’t stand them nobhead strikers all over the efl that do this all game. about time this happened.
@Joey7Barton: Embarrassing from the officials. A 6 point at the bottom of @SkyBetLeagueOne and the Ref does this after less than a minute. Traffic wardens who don’t understand the game. Never a red card that. Not in a million years. And it’s might got @shrewsburytown a bit more. This Ref will be part time? And too think of the money currently in our game. Amateurs. 👑
@TheGobFather180: The time into the game, or the fact the game is, in your opinion, a 6 pointer isn’t relevant at all. He takes a look at the defender, then raises an elbow to his face. It’s violent conduct and a red card.
@Joey7Barton: Marquis has the right to protect that space. Defenders trying take his space and ducks onto forearm. Time in the game, is huge context. How we all start games is important. Def wants to start fast and on the front foot. No swinging elbow from JM. Shouldn’t be a red card.
@Hampton_Lakes:“Fastest red card since OPTA records began, you’ll never sing that”(According to Sky Sports News)
@OLSTFC: That’s the end of that then , It’s been nice whilst it lasted @SkyBetLeagueOne, hello @SkyBetLeagueTwo 🔵🟠
@Alex_STFC: Genuinely rip up his contract
