Premier League suspension rules: Which players are sitting out or close to a ban?
Premier League players can face suspensions if they get too many yellow cards or red cards during the 2026/27 season. So, who is closest to getting banned?
If a player collects five yellow cards in the first 19 games of the season, they’ll get a one-match ban. Another ban can come before Gameweek 33 if they reach ten yellow cards. If a player ends the season with 15 yellow cards, they face a three-game ban. Getting 20 or more yellow cards means the punishment will be decided by a special committee.
These bans only apply to Premier League games, not the Carabao or FA Cups. So, players miss top-flight matches, but can still play in the cup games.
Red cards lead to different bans depending on the offense. For example, denying a goal by handball or getting two yellows in one game means a one-match ban. Serious fouls or violent conduct usually result in a three-match ban. Spitting leads to six matches off, while offensive language results in a two-game suspension. Unlike yellow card bans, red card suspensions cover Premier League, Carabao Cup, and FA Cup games, meaning the ban lasts across all competitions.
This weekend, five Premier League players will miss matches due to previous red cards. Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt and Sunderland’s Kevin Danso sit out Gameweek 8, while Brentford’s Yehor Yarmoliuk and Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon will miss two games. Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur also missed Gameweek 7 and will miss the next two matches.
After seven matches this season, four players are close to a one-match ban, each with four yellow cards so far. Another yellow in any of their next 12 games means a suspension. They are Matt Crooks and Oli McBurnie from Hull City, Vitaly Janelt from Bournemouth, and Igor Thiago from Brentford.
In team stats, Hull City and Bournemouth lead with 21 yellow cards each. Newcastle United follows with 19, then Brentford with 18 yellow and 2 red cards. Liverpool has 17 yellows and 1 red, Nottingham Forest 16 yellows, and Brighton 15 yellows and 1 red card. Other teams like Fulham, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Leeds, Sunderland, Ipswich, Everton, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Coventry City also have varying numbers of yellow and red cards so far this season.
Keep an eye on these players and teams to see who might face suspensions as the season goes on!