The Colombian Gerardo ‘the Beast’ Bedoya still holds a completely different record in terms of red cards. He is football’s quintessential ‘bad boy’, rightfully bearing the titles ‘king of the red cards’ and ‘dirtiest footballer in the world’. Bedoya was sent off an incredible 46 times in his career. It speaks for his sporting qualities that he nevertheless played 49 international matches and won the 2001 Copa America with Colombia. The man, also known as the ‘Beast’, changed clubs 14 times. In 2002, he was one of two Colombians to be sidelined for an entire season. In the second round game of his club Racing Club in the Copa Libertadores against America, he had one of his specialties,
It went on like this over the years. Even at the high footballing age of over 35, Bedoya still got eight red cards from 2011 to 2013 at Santa Fe. So there was no sign of old age. On the contrary. In 2012, the Colombian received a 15-game ban for elbowing his opponent in the face again. But that wasn’t enough for Bedoya that day. When the fouled man was on the ground, he kicked the injured player uncontrollably – in the middle of his already battered face. After seeing red, Bedoya fought a verbal battle with the referee on the way to the dressing room. Club officials calmed him down and led him off the pitch.
Chaos as a manager
After the Colombian defender retired from Cúcuta Deportivo in 2015, Bedoya went quiet for a few months. Probably a bit too quiet for him. And so it took exactly one day before he was back in the limelight. After his appointment as assistant coach at Santa Fe in spring 2016. After a 1-0 lead from Bediya’s side, Santa Fe’s opponents, Atlético Junior’s team, quickly equalized. The hot-headed Colombian obviously didn’t like that at all. And so he snapped loudly at the assistant referee – until it got too colorful for him. Wilmar Navarro gave the referee a signal and Bedoya was sent off the bench and into the stands after less than 20 minutes of play. A made-to-measure debut for Bedoya – and the 47th dismissal of his career.
