The 'Battle of Nuremberg' holds the record for the most cards ever issued in a FIFA World Cup match.

The match took place on June 25, 2006, at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg, Germany. It was a Round of 16 knockout game between Portugal and the Netherlands. Russian referee Valentin Ivanov issued 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards, setting a new FIFA World Cup record for the highest number of bookings in a single match.The aggression started early when Khalid Boulahrouz injured Cristiano Ronaldo with a heavy tackle in the 7th minute. This set a hostile tone that Ivanov struggled to contain. By the end of the match, Costinha and Deco from Portugal, along with Boulahrouz and Giovanni van Bronckhorst from the Netherlands, had all been sent off. This resulted in both teams finishing the game with only nine players each.The match is scientifically significant in sports psychology and officiating studies. It serves as a case study on 'escalation of commitment' and the breakdown of authority in high-pressure environments. FIFA President Sepp Blatter later criticized Ivanov, suggesting the referee should have given himself a yellow card for his poor performance. However, Blatter later apologized for his public remarks after reviewing the difficulty of managing such extreme player misconduct.The 16 yellow cards remain a tournament record, though the 2022 World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands eventually tied the record for total cards issued. The Battle of Nuremberg remains a primary example used in referee training to demonstrate how early leniency can lead to a total loss of match control. It highlights the delicate balance officials must maintain between allowing physical play and ensuring player safety.