the most shocking example i can recall was the World Cup Final. Holland vs Spain. Ref Howard Webb was clearly compromised as the Dutch played a karate football for 120 minutes.

It has often been observed that a red card 'ruined the game'. And hence the reluctance of Ref's to use the red card. This can often mar an otherwise good match.

You sometimes get a compensatory red card on the other team, just to even up the play somewhat.

Regarding fouls in the box & penalties, do we see the rules regarding a red card being enforced ? or avoided ?

Other sports have a sin-bin , similar to a Yellow but leading to a 5 or 10 minute absence from the Pitch. And maybe they benefit from that ? All the players know the Ref will enforce the rules with alacrity.

Any opinions or observations ?

Eze Peasy at Anfield....

They should use the sin bin for technical offences - kicking the ball away, dissent, etc, and keep the cards for foul play.

Not sure how it would work with goalkeepers - playing without one for 10 minutes would be a stretch. Sticking an outfield player in goal used to be entertaining but the clubs would doubtless claim the stakes are too high now. Maybe the sanctions on goalies would have to be carried over to another game.
Or the ref could just give them a good boot up the arse.

seeing as Willo has touched on it, if you scroll down it answers the Q? of 'Keepers . . . [Link]

I'm a blind man, i'm a blind man, now my room is cold,
When a blind man cries, Lord, he feels it from his soul.
[Link]

I have never seen a goalkeeper sent to the 'Sin bin' but the same rule applies to them.
I have seen a 'Sin Bin' spread over 2 halves with a player 'Sin Binned' just before the half-time break.

Look at the outrageous cynicism & fouling of teams like Atletico Madrid.

I reckon its cos they have latched on to the inability of referees to manage a game with subtlety.

Diego Simeone has, rightly, calculated that a few red cards per season are a modest price to pay. A modest price for bullying other teams every week.

Eze Peasy at Anfield....