Match penalty is a term used in some sports for a player having committed such a serious offense that he or she is being sent off for the rest of the game. The term is used in bandy,[1] floorball, and ice hockey.[2]
In bandy, it is indicated with a red penalty card.[3]
In ice hockey, there are two kinds of sending-off penalties: “game misconduct penalty” and the more serious or more extreme “match penalty” which is imposed for deliberately injuring another player as well as attempting to injure another player. Many other penalties automatically become match penalties if injuries actually occur: under NHL rules, butt-ending, goalies using blocking glove to the face of another player, head-butting, kicking, punching an unsuspecting player, spearing, and tape on hands during altercation[4] must be called as a match penalty if injuries occur. Under IIHF rules, match penalty used to be imposed for kneeing[5] and checking to the head or neck area[6] if injuries occurred; since the 2023/24 edition of IIHF rules, match penalty has been removed from the rules and a major penalty with a game misconduct penalty should be imposed for dangerous actions.[7]