Sports
The 17 Longest Bans in Premier League History
The catalogue of the longest bans in the Premier League is a varied assembly of crimes – and we’re here to go through them: all the way from the oddly bizarre down to the downright cynical. Most frequently, players are brandished a red card for a bad tackle, shouting expletives towards officials or – for some players on this list – shoving the referee in anger.
A straight red card means that a player is also handed a three-match suspension – but, depending on the severity of the incident, the repercussions are sometimes much larger. It’s typically at the discretion of the Football Association (FA) as to how long a player spends away from action, with bans across the top tier ranging from days to months.
Players are able to receive long-term bans due to off-field issues. This can be for breaching betting regulations, taking banned performance-related substances or even failing to attend a scheduled drug test. From violent conduct to drug taking to gambling, the reasons why some footballers have missed substantial time away from the beautiful game are endless.
So, with all that in mind, what are the longest bans served by Premier League players? The Sun named the 10 longest bans in the history of the Premier League, and their list has been updated following the latest bans to hit the headlines.
17
Rodrigo Bentancur – Seven Games
The first entry on the list is different from all the others, as it regards comments made by a player about one of their teammates. Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was hit with a seven-match ban after making a racially insensitive remark about club captain Son Heung-min during an interview for Uruguayan television ahead of the 2024 Copa America.
Bentancur implied that he would not be able to tell his captain from his cousin as they “all look the same,” a discriminatory reference to Son’s ethnicity. While the 27-year-old publicly apologised for the comments and Son himself forgave his teammate and said he wanted to move past the situation, the FA still felt it was necessary to punish the former Juventus star, stating that he had breached “FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.” Bentancur was also slapped with a £100,000 fine for his actions.
16
Aleksandar Mitrovic – Eight Games
Pushed a match official
In an FA Cup affair with Manchester United, the Serbian powerhouse had a moment to forget as, following teammate Willian’s red card, he left his side two men down. Overcome with anger and frustration, Mitrovic shoved referee Chris Kavanagh for showing red cards to Willian and Marco Silva and was then sent for an early bath himself.
On the back of his ill-fated interaction with Kavanagh, the Fulham man was given an eight-game ban, one that the Ref Support CEO was a supporter of. Mitrovic made his Fulham return on May 13 when his side travelled to Southampton, a game in which they won, and he scored the second of the affair.
15
Luis Suarez – Eight Games
Racially abused Patrice Evra
Suarez was slapped with an eight-game ban after being found guilty of hurling racial abuse towards Manchester United and France defender Patrice Evra in December 2011. Alongside his suspension from playing, the Uruguayan centre forward was slapped with a hefty fine of £40,000.
Upon his return to action against Manchester United, Suarez couldn’t help himself but add more fuel to the fire by refusing to shake Evra’s hand as the two teams passed each other before kick-off. In support of their striker, Liverpool players wore t-shirts protesting his innocence following the incident – something that Jamie Carragher later apologised to Evra for.
14
Luis Suarez – 10 Games
Biting Branislav Ivanovic
Synonymously known to be a bit of a troublemaker when playing in Europe, Suarez features on this list twice. He was suspended for 10 games after he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in 2013 during a Premier League fixture.
Undoubtedly one of the most controversial and infamous moments in English topflight history, his knack of using his teeth followed him around as he repeated his highly controversial actions on Giorgio Chiellini while on international duty. Suarez was – on that occasion – fined £66,000 and received a four-month ban for biting the Italy international in a World Cup game.
13
David Prutton – 10 Games
Pushed referee after sending off
Prutton was given a 10-game ban, as well as a £6,000 fine, when he pushed the referee, Alan Wiley, after being sent off in a game for Southampton against Arsenal in 2005. The suspension, at the time, was the longest served by a Premier League player for physical assault on a match official.
Prutton admitted to two separate counts of improper conduct towards the man in the middle as he made a beeline towards assistant referee Paul Norman, who suggested he should be sent off for a reckless challenge on the Gunners’ winger, Robert Pires. The Southampton midfielder later issued a sincere apology for manhandling the referee, though it was to no benefit as he endured a ten-match stint away from the field.
12
Paolo Di Canio – 11 Games
Pushed referee after sending off
Despite ending his time in the Premier League as a cult hero, Di Canio didn’t help his cause in a match between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal in 1998. After being shown a red card, he pushed – just like Prutton – referee Paul Alcock and sent him flying before storming off the pitch in disgust.
He was given an 11-game ban and a £10,000 fine as the football authorities were outraged with his behaviour, especially from someone as senior as Di Canio was. Certainly not his finest moment on a football field, Di Canio served his suspension and returned to brilliance 11 games later.
11
Joey Barton – 12 Games
Assaulted three Man City players in one game
Midfielder-turned-troublemaker Barton faced a 12-game ban on the back of his three-man assault at the Etihad Stadium – one of many shameful episodes during his career. Plying his trade for QPR, the player received his marching orders for elbowing Carlos Tevez in the side.
A kick for Sergio Aguero followed before his attempt to headbutt Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany. Also fined a whopping £75,000 following a seven-and-a-half-hour hearing with the FA’s commission, the QPR captain had placed his position at the club in the balance, especially as he was found guilty of two charges of violent conduct. Though, this was just another day in the office for Barton.
10
Kolo Toure – Six Months
Tested positive for performance-enhancing drug
Toure was given a six-month ban in 2011 after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances as the FA informed the Ivorian that his A sample returned a positive result and that he was unable to partake in any fixtures until an investigative resolution had been reached.
Toure, brother of Yaya, pleaded his innocence as he believed the failed test was down to taking his wife’s water tablets. As such, the Manchester City star’s ban was eventually overturned as the FA were under the impression that he had taken the banned substance unknowingly. He returned to action in September, all ready and raring to go for the new campaign.
9
Adrian Mutu – Seven Months
Tested positive for using cocaine
In September 2004, Chelsea forward Mutu was banned from football for seven months after testing positive for use of cocaine. The Blues then terminated his deal with immediate effect and then started to seek compensation from the Romanian for breach of contract.
Aside from his FA-led ban, Mutu was given a fine of £20,000, though the length of his ban was entirely reliant on his attending his rehabilitation sessions in full. He completed his rehabilitation programme with the Sporting Chance Clinic, set up by Tony Adams, and did not feel like an appeal was necessary. FIFA eventually ordered Mutu to pay a figure around the £16 million mark to his old club.
8
Ivan Toney – Eight Months
Breached FA Betting rules
One of the more high-profile bans of recent times, Brentford frontman Ivan Toney was charged with 232 breaches of the FA’s betting laws during a four-year period between 2017 and 2021. On top of his eight-month ban, he was fined £50,000 and was given a stern warning over future conduct.
In a statement, Toney said, per Sky: “Today I have received notification of my eight-month ban from football following a hearing before an FA Regulatory Commission that took place yesterday. I am naturally disappointed that I will be unable to play for the next eight months.”
Returning to the Brentford fold in 2024, Toney struggled to pick up where he left off, scoring just four times in 17 appearances for the Bees. Nevertheless, he still has a reputation for being one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
Liverpool are now set to make a ‘big proposal’ to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with Fabrizio Romano issuing a new update on the transfer saga.
Liverpool wrapped up a deal to sign Osasuna winger Victor Munoz out of nowhere last week, but club chiefs aren’t finished there when it comes to strengthening their attack.
They want to give new manager Andoni Iraola the best squad possible as he looks to get his team performing strongly in both the Premier League and the Champions League next season.
Change was clearly needed after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that saw them end the season 25 points adrift of champions Arsenal, just 12 months after winning the title in Arne Slot’s first campaign in charge.
Andy Roberson, Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah have joined Slot in leaving Anfield this summer, and Liverpool have made finding a replacement for the latter one of their biggest priorities.
While Munoz will slot in on the left, the Reds need to find a right-sided player too and they have identified Diomande as their number one target.
Liverpool have made progress on the player side of negotiations, but Leipzig’s asking price continues to be a big hurdle to getting a deal over the line.
Romano: Liverpool ‘Very Aggressive’ in Diomande Pursuit
Liverpool have already seen a bid worth a total of €100m rejected by the Bundesliga outfit, with GIVEMESPORT sources revealing that the offer was worth €80m plus €20m in add-ons.
It was rejected by Leipzig, who are holding out for more than £100m for a player who has exploded onto the global stage at the World Cup with the Ivory Coast following a stunning breakthrough campaign in Germany.
Diomande has already been described as a ‘superstar’, and Liverpool are ready to return with a ‘big proposal’ to get a deal done for a player also attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
Issuing the latest update on Liverpool’s pursuit via his YouTube channel, Romano said:
“There are several clubs interested, Paris Saint-Germain, and now Liverpool are very aggressive, and also because Liverpool will bid more than €100m.
“It’s going to be a big proposal coming from Liverpool in order to try to change the situation. So Liverpool are working on the player side in terms of contract proposal, salary, and project, and on the club side working hard to get this deal done for Yan Diomande.
“So that’s going to be a big story to follow, because Liverpool are absolutely there.”
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Liverpool Targeting Two More World Cup Stars
It isn’t just Diomande catching Liverpool’s eye at the 2026 World Cup.
Romano confirmed earlier this month that the Reds have already had transfer meetings over a potential move for another teenage sensation shining in North America.
The Merseysiders are keen on Lille and Morocco 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is also attracting interest from other top clubs in Europe having made almost 100 senior appearances for Lille and dominating the Brazilian midfield in his nation’s opening World Cup fixture.
Liverpool are also said to have entered the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who has been one of Germany’s standout players at the tournament.
Domestically, GMS sources also have interest in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.
While he put himself front and centre during the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, Donald Trump hasn’t been seen at a match yet since the showpiece tournament began on June 11 – and now there is a new reason for him to avoid fixtures involving four English-speaking teams for the remainder of the competition.
The US president was on course to be one of the most talked-about figures across the USA, Canada and Mexico for quite some time, given the context of entry issues, political tensions with Iran, and his push to advance some of his more controversial policies through the vehicle of sport.
However, Trump has gone somewhat AWOL in recent days. Many football fans and neutrals alike would argue that’s a good thing, and now one explanation for his sudden disappearance has been put forward.
Why Donald Trump Might Avoid Matches Involving English-Speaking Teams
According to the Mirror, the 80-year-old ‘may not attend’ a World Cup match involving an English-speaking team, after brutal fan chants linking the president to his old friend Jeffrey Epstein went viral. Concern is understood to be so high that questions are being asked about whether the US leader will present the trophy at the July 19 final, amid fears over what supporters could sing should he appear.
What’s more, White House officials are claimed to be attempting to shield Trump from the hostility on the terraces, particularly from fans of Scotland, England, Australia, and New Zealand. A source said:
“There isn’t a fan alive who doesn’t know how fragile Trump’s ego is. In recent months, he has had to contend with widespread booing whenever he attends major sporting events in America, but this is another level entirely.
“New Yorkers were furious when he turned up at the recent Knicks basketball game. But World Cup supporters are taking it to a whole new level, linking Trump to his friendship with Epstein and to his appearance in Epstein-related files.”
The source concluded: “His staff are in crisis mode trying to prevent the President from being exposed to the chants in person, and that includes avoiding matches involving English-speaking teams.”
Broadcasters Have Been Made Aware – But Chants Stopping Unlikely
Lead broadcasters have already been made aware of the chants being heard at matches, perhaps to ensure they are ready to muffle them like they do anti-Keir Starmer songs at the Darts and in the Premier League.
But they are unlikely to stop fully, with supporters drawing attention to Trump’s long-documented friendship with Epstein, the pedophile who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
Iran Fans Sing 3-Word Chant About the US During Farewell Ceremony for World Cup Stars
The two nations could meet later in the tournament.
The pair moved into the same social circles throughout the 1980s and 1990s and were photographed together on numerous occasions. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump described Epstein as a “terrific guy” and said he was “a lot of fun to be with”. The president has since sought to distance himself from his former friend, saying the pair fell out years before Epstein’s criminal convictions and insisting he barred him from Mar-a-Lago.
The issue has returned to the political spotlight because of continuing controversy surrounding the release of Epstein-related court documents and investigative files. Trump’s name, along with those of numerous public figures, has appeared in released records.
A World Cup match is at ‘severe risk’ of a temporary suspension on Monday evening, with a little-known US rule coming into focus ahead of a crucial group-stage fixture.
Disruptions have regularly threatened to overshadow this summer’s tournament, though none have significantly affected proceedings so far. Entry issues, visa complications, and geopolitical tensions have all created uncertainty across the USA, Canada and Mexico, but FIFA have largely managed to navigate those challenges up to this point.
However, a relatively unknown protocol – one that was used during the Club World Cup won by Chelsea in the United States last summer – could come into effect again. If triggered, it could lead to significant delays during one of Monday’s most eye-catching matchups.
World Cup Match at ‘Severe Risk’ of Temporary Suspension
According to RMC Sport, via Tribuna, the second-round group stage match between France and Iraq, scheduled to take place at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, could be temporarily suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
Thunderstorms are forecast during the game. The tournament enforces a specific safety protocol that requires a mandatory pause in the event of a lightning strike near the stadium. If lightning is recorded within a radius of approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the venue, the match will be stopped for a minimum of 30 minutes. In the case of a repeated strike, the countdown will reset.
Rules for suspending matches due to weather conditions are based on current regulations applied during sporting events in the United States, as reported by The Guardian.
Chelsea’s Round of 16 tie against Benfica in last year’s Club World Cup was suspended in the 86th minute when lightning was detected in the area, and the match didn’t continue until four hours and 38 minutes after it had begun.
France Expected To Score For Fun – But Lasting Fatigue Could be Issue
An attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise – all of whom are in the running for the Ballon d’Or – is expected to feast on the Iraq defence on Monday night, and any issues surrounding the match are unlikely to stem from the action on the pitch.
As one of the tournament favourites, Les Bleus may not get an easier fixture. However, the performances of Cape Verde, Curacao and other smaller nations at this World Cup have shown that nothing can be taken for granted, despite their convincing 3-1 opening win vs Senegal last week.
Second World Cup Nation Facing US Entry Issues Days Before Final Group Game
Visa issues have regularly threatened to throw the 2026 World Cup into chaos, and another nation has been subject to US entry complications.
Indeed, the biggest concern may be the possibility of the match lasting longer than one that goes to extra time and penalties due to a pending thunderstorm. Such a delay could have an impact in the latter stages of the tournament, although Didier Deschamps may be in a position to rest some of his key players by halftime, depending on the scoreline.
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