There were 28 red cards shown in 64 matches at Germany 2006, setting a new FIFA World Cup™ record.
The disciplinary count, which also included 345 yellow cards - an average of 5.39 per match - surpassed the previous benchmark from France 1998.
There was, though, a notable improvement in discipline at South Africa 2010, with 104 fewer yellow cards and 11 fewer dismissals than the previous edition.