Antigua and Barbuda ended their CONCACAF Nations League match with nine players after two of their players were sent off for pulling the dreadlocks of Anguilla substitute Aedan Scipio, who came on in the 69th minute of the game.
- Two Antigua and Barbuda players, Keon Greene and Shalon Knight, were sent off for pulling Anguilla substitute Aedan Scipio’s dreadlocks.
- Scipio entered the game in the 69th minute; Greene was dismissed shortly after and Knight in stoppage time, leaving Antigua and Barbuda with nine men.
- The match was a CONCACAF Nations League fixture at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium where Antigua and Barbuda led 5-0; reports do not record further disciplinary action beyond the red cards.
What happened
According to match coverage, Anguilla were trailing 5-0 when Aedan Scipio entered the game. Within minutes, Keon Greene of Antigua and Barbuda was shown a straight red card for grabbing Scipio’s long dreadlocks while attempting to challenge for the ball. Late in stoppage time another Antigua and Barbuda player, Shalon Knight, was also dismissed for pulling Scipio’s hair from behind. Both dismissals were reported as straight red cards.
Where this took place and the scoreline
The incidents occurred in a CONCACAF Nations League fixture played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Match reports list Antigua and Barbuda as having built a 5-0 lead in the first half; the sending-offs did not alter the final outcome, with Antigua and Barbuda recorded as having scored all five goals before the substitutions and dismissals.
Players and teams involved
- Aedan Scipio (Anguilla) – substitute who came on in the 69th minute; reports describe him as having very long dreadlocks.
- Keon Greene (Antigua and Barbuda) – sent off within minutes of Scipio entering the match for tugging the player’s hair, reported as a straight red card.
- Shalon Knight (Antigua and Barbuda) – shown a straight red in stoppage time for pulling Scipio’s dreadlocks from behind.
Why it matters
The two dismissals attracted attention because they were for the same offence against the same opponent in a single match, an uncommon sequence that left the home side reduced to nine players despite a comfortable lead. The incident highlights how player conduct and enforcement of Laws of the Game can influence a match’s closing stages even when the result is already decisive.
Rules and likely disciplinary context
Grabbing an opponent’s hair during play is treated as violent conduct under the Laws of the Game, which permits a referee to issue a red card. Reports say both incidents resulted in straight red cards, consistent with violent conduct sanctions. The published accounts do not include any details of post-match disciplinary action by CONCACAF or national associations; any additional punishments beyond the in-game dismissals would require official confirmation.
How media covered it
Major sport outlets and regional media highlighted the unusual nature of the dismissals and Scipio’s distinctive hairstyle as the focus of discussion after the match. Coverage emphasised that both red cards occurred after Scipio entered the game, and noted the match context — Antigua and Barbuda’s five first-half goals and Anguilla’s low FIFA ranking relative to their opponents. Reports did not provide quotes from players, coaches or match officials.
Timeline
- First half: Antigua and Barbuda score five goals to lead 5-0.
- 69th minute: Aedan Scipio is brought on as a substitute for Anguilla.
- Shortly after coming on: Keon Greene is sent off for pulling Scipio’s dreadlocks.
- Added time: Shalon Knight is shown a straight red card for grabbing Scipio’s hair from behind.
- Full time: Antigua and Barbuda complete the match with nine players; scoreline remains 5-0.
Comparison and context
Hair-pulling dismissals are rare but not unprecedented; media references compare the incidents to a small number of previous red cards issued for similar fouls at club level. The match also underlines the wider gulf between the two teams in FIFA ranking: reporting cites Anguilla near the bottom of the rankings and Antigua and Barbuda ranked substantially higher. That context may explain the lopsided scoreline, though the red cards drew the wider attention after the match.
What comes next
At present there are no reports of further sanctions from CONCACAF or the national associations; official disciplinary action, if any, would be announced by those bodies. Antigua and Barbuda will face the sporting consequences of the dismissals in the match itself — completing the game with nine men — while any competitive or administrative follow-up remains unconfirmed in available coverage.
Takeaway
The match will be remembered less for the five-goal margin and more for the unusual disciplinary sequence: two straight red cards for the same offence against the same substitute. Reports establish the facts of the dismissals and the players involved, while any additional punishments or official statements from CONCACAF or the teams have not been published in the sources reviewed.
Aedan Scipio “came off the bench in the 69th minute” — Source 1