By: Emma Ouyang

In the chaotic Czech Republic v. Turkey game, referee Istvan Kovacs gave out 18 cards, sixteen yellow and two red, breaking the new record set 20 minutes before then.

The first yellow card was handed to midfielder Antonin Barak from the Czech Republic for dragging down left-back Ferdi Kadiogu.

Despite this first punishment, Barak received another yellow card just 9 minutes later. Close to the halfway line, with a Turkey midfielder on each side of him, Barak stuck his left foot out to try and get the ball before Salih Ozcan, stamping on Ozcan’s foot and tripping him. After being booked a second time, Barak was pulled out from the game, breaking the record for the earliest player expulsion from a Euros game. This sent commentators into dispute over whether the athlete deserved this punishment.

“This one was even more baffling. He’s in possession of the ball; he taps it away,” said ITV commentator Andrew Townsend, who believed that Barak shouldn’t have received such severe consequences. “It’s his follow-through that catches the Turkish player. You can always slow it down and freeze-frame it, but ultimately, he’s in possession of the ball.”

In the 31st minute, Ozcan received a yellow card as well, and then Patrick Schick was given a card for dissent, although he was not on the pitch. Not too long after, Turkish player Yildiz lost the ball to center-back Robin Hranac. Yildiz sent Hranac rolling across the field, earning himself a yellow card.

Before the end of the game, five more players were booked.

Then, after the final whistle, players erupted into chaos again at Turkey’s victory, with a tussle happening near the halfway line. Striker Tomas Chory emerged with a red card, while Tomas Soucek and Arda Guler received yellow cards.

“Everyone did the maximum,” said Soucek, Czech Republic team captain. “The morale was huge. Just a sad end … But that is football.”