30 Dec 2008

English amateur player sent off after three seconds

5:48 am on 30 December 2008

Amateur footballer David Pratt is being credited with earning the fastest ever red card after being sent off just three seconds into a game in England.

The Chippenham striker made headlines after getting the swift red card for lunging at Bashley's Chris Knowles in the seventh-tier Southern Premier Division over the weekend.

Pratt says he felt hard done by.

British media called Pratt's accomplishment a world record, although not all amateur leagues keep records of such feats.

The record for quickest dismissal in a professional match is believed to be held by Italian club Bologna's Giuseppe Lorenzo, who was sent off after 10 seconds in 1990 for hitting a Parma player.

Bashley won Saturday's match 2-1.