The 16 Longest Bans in Premier League History – Ranked

June 23, 2025 Rasmus Kristensen

Red cards, doping scandals, betting violations, and even kung-fu kicks—Premier League history has seen it all.
While a typical straight red card leads to a three-match suspension, some incidents have been so severe or controversial that the Football Association has handed down much lengthier bans. These punishments have sidelined players for months—or even ended their careers altogether.

From pushing referees and biting opponents to testing positive for banned substances, this list chronicles the longest bans ever issued in Premier League history. The names may be familiar, but the reasons behind their suspensions are as wild as football gets.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 7 games

Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur received a seven-game suspension after making racially insensitive comments about teammate Son Heung-min. The Uruguayan said in a TV interview that he wouldn’t be able to tell Son apart from his cousin because “they all look the same.” Despite apologizing and Son accepting it, the FA fined him £100,000 and imposed the suspension for breaching FA Rule E3.

Aleksandar Mitrović – 8 games

Mitrović earned an eight-game ban after losing his temper during an FA Cup match against Manchester United. The Fulham striker shoved referee Chris Kavanagh after his team had already been reduced to nine men. The FA viewed the incident as an unacceptable act of aggression against a match official.

Luis Suárez – 8 games

Luis Suarez — Foto: Visionhaus/Getty Images

In 2011, Suárez was suspended for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. The FA found him guilty following an investigation, and he was also fined £40,000. The situation worsened when Suárez refused to shake Evra’s hand during a later match.

Luis Suárez – 10 games

Suárez appeared on the ban list again in 2013 when he bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanović during a league game. It was one of the most controversial moments in Premier League history. He received a 10-match ban and later repeated the biting offense at the international level.

David Prutton – 10 games

Southampton midfielder David Prutton was handed a 10-game suspension in 2005 for pushing referee Alan Wiley after being sent off against Arsenal. He also confronted an assistant referee in the same incident. The FA cited two counts of improper conduct and fined him £6,000.

Paolo Di Canio – 11 games

In a 1998 clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal, Di Canio pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being shown a red card. The act shocked English football and led to an 11-game ban and a £10,000 fine. It remains one of the most infamous acts of dissent in Premier League history.

Joey Barton – 12 games

Barton’s 12-match ban stemmed from a wild meltdown during a match against Manchester City in 2012. After elbowing Carlos Tevez, he kicked Sergio Agüero and attempted to headbutt Vincent Kompany. The FA punished him severely, and QPR fined him £75,000 following a lengthy disciplinary hearing.

Kolo Touré – 6 months

Kolo Toure — Pal2iyawit / Shutterstock.com

Touré was suspended for six months in 2011 after testing positive for a banned substance. The Manchester City defender claimed the result came from taking his wife’s water tablets. The FA accepted that the ingestion was unintentional but enforced the ban to maintain strict doping standards.

Adrian Mutu – 7 months

Chelsea's Adrian Mutu received a seven-month ban in 2004 after testing positive for cocaine. The club terminated his contract and later pursued financial damages. Mutu also had to undergo a rehabilitation program before being eligible to return to football.

Ivan Toney – 8 months

Brentford striker Ivan Toney was banned for eight months in 2023 for breaching FA betting rules 232 times between 2017 and 2021. In addition to the suspension, he was fined £50,000. Toney admitted to the charges and returned to action in 2024.

Rio Ferdinand – 8 months

Ferdinand missed a scheduled drugs test in 2003 and was banned for eight months despite passing a test later the same day. The Manchester United defender claimed he forgot the appointment because he went shopping. The FA upheld the punishment, and he missed Euro 2004 as a result.

Eric Cantona – 9 months

In one of the most iconic meltdowns in football history, Cantona received a nine-month ban for kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan in 1995. He also received a £30,000 fine and community service. The incident is both infamous and symbolic of Cantona’s volatile genius.

Mark Bosnich – 9 months

Chelsea goalkeeper Bosnich tested positive for cocaine in 2002 and was banned for nine months. He was released by the club and later tried to revive his career with Portsmouth, but ultimately took a lengthy break from football. His fall from grace was one of the sport’s cautionary tales.

Sandro Tonali – 10 months

Newcastle’s big-money signing Tonali was banned for 10 months in 2023 after being found guilty of betting violations, both in Italy and England. He missed most of the 2023/24 season and Euro 2024. The suspension included 50 breaches of FA betting rules.

Abel Xavier – 12 months

While at Middlesbrough, Xavier became the first Premier League player banned for doping after testing positive for the anabolic steroid Dianabol in 2005. Originally banned for 18 months, the penalty was later reduced to a year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Joey Barton – 13 months

Barton received the longest ban in Premier League history: 13 months for placing 1,260 bets on matches between 2006 and 2016. The original suspension was 18 months but was reduced on appeal. It effectively ended his playing career after Burnley terminated his contract.