The data has moved from anecdote to trend, and it’s a worrying one—an unsettling pattern lurking behind the scenes. Far from viewing its history as a bonus, it’s settled into a framework that treats it as a burden. It becomes the perfect excuse for the youngest referees to aim for a career among higher levels.
There is a growing belief within the club that players from the blue and white team face unusually harsh scrutiny when their misconduct is judged. With a squad that boasts a notable Premier League track record, the club presents a more pressure-filled image in fourth-tier matches. The team’s bold character attracts colleges and scouts looking to advance their levels, adding to the sense of a high-stakes environment.
Hercules was sent off 11 times last season, the most red cards in the entire group 5 during their first year in the fourth category.
It’s a long-standing debate gaining traction, and data is starting to back it up. A repeat offender like Lolo Escobar has questioned how a team that “nearly commits a foul” can see nine players sent off. He referenced eight dismissals in the league and César Moreno in the King’s Cup. This tally excludes him and his predecessor, Ángel Rodríguez, who left the field early after a referee’s penalty.
Espanyol-Hercules | Lolo Escobar: “I was expelled for protesting a clear penalty”
Pedro Rojas
Hercules ranks as the second most sent-off club in group 3 this season, with only Spanish B ahead of them. They have received eight red cards in 29 games, meaning a dismissal roughly every three matches. This harsh disciplinary record shapes their role in the competition and fuels ongoing debate about their approach and strategy.
Legal appeals continue, seeking the removal of a second yellow for Riera
Hercules today filed a complaint with the Competition Committee alleging that referee Manuel Ramírez Marco attempted to cancel a second yellow shown to Roger Riera in the 79th minute. The central defender was charged with “interrupting a promising attack” according to the minutes. The club argues there was no physical contact and plans to present video evidence. Still, the likelihood of success remains uncertain, as camera footage does not definitively prove the error did not occur, and the club has yet to secure additional resources.
The alternative viewpoint within the blue-and-white SAD suggests a defensive lapse and misreading of the game plan. This misjudgment pushes players to commit fouls at inopportune moments, leading to penalties and cautions that disadvantage the team. In the yellow-card column, Escobar’s squad sits mid-pack, while Real Zaragoza B rises with accumulated warnings, illustrating a broader pattern of discipline concerns across the group.
Hercules views their defensive actions as calibrated to match the challenge posed by penalties in their favor. The team has endured a long dry spell—eleven months and one day since the last breach of discipline in this regard. Last year, Sergio Mora and Hercules stood out as the most sent-off team in the Second RFEF, a feat no other side could surpass. Even in the league, only a few teams have matched such a troubling record of dismissals.