The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 plus 4 letter word RED CARD
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
R
E
D
C
A
R
D
More clues leading to the result RED CARD
- Heart perhaps shown by referee
- Dismissal is indicated by this angry-looking oddball
- What club isn't providing punishment for player?
- Course director dismissed sign
- Embarrassed about route used to dismiss player
- Off colour, playing football?
- Diamond maybe that a footballer doesn’t want
- Punishment for member of Hearts, say?
- Punishment or prize?
- Vehicle beginning to drive after stop signal – that signal says ‘go’!
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Off colour, playing football?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case off colour, playing football? = red card.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does RED CARD mean?
RED CARD verb- To show (a player) a red card, and dismiss them from the playing area; to send off.