By: Ruyi Lin

Turkey’s chaotic 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in the 2024 European Football Championship was marked by Cenk Tosun’s injury-time goal which secured their spot in the knockout stages of the competition. By far, having the most cards presented in a Euro cup game, Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs issued a record-breaking 18 cards—including 16 yellows and 2 reds, five of which were given to off-field players.

The match began well for the Czech Republic, who disrupted Turkey’s midfield with aggressive pressing, but it took a turn when Antonin Barak received an early yellow card, beginning his chain of questionable decisions. Barak’s reckless play eventually led to his ejection with a red card in the 20th minute. Czech striker Patrik Schick, who wasn’t even on the pitch, also received a yellow card.

Tensions boiled over in stoppage time when Tosun’s goal ignited celebrations for Turkey and clashes between players and coaches from both sides. The referee struggled to maintain order, distributing more cards, including a red card to Czech striker Tomas Chory for a dispute with Turkey’s goalkeeper Mert Gunok.

By the end, the match had surpassed the previous record for the most cards in a Euros game. Despite the victory, Turkey’s hot-headedness and the resulting chaos made this match historical for its mayhem. With upcoming games and key players suspended, Turkey will need composure to continue their success in the tournament when facing Austria in the knockout stages.