Explained: Premier League yellow card suspension rules and players at risk

Twelve teams reached the Premier League half of the season over the weekend, while Fulham became the first to reach 20 games.

For players from those 13 clubs, the disciplinary slate has been wiped clean for now.

But there are still seven teams yet to play 19 games this term, leaving a handful of players hanging in the balance before their games in the coming days, including some hoping to take part in Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United. on Sunday.

Here, the athletic explains the rules on suspension in the Premier League and looks at the players who could still be penalized for their lack of discipline.

How many yellow cards lead to a ban in the Premier League?

Premier League players have some leeway regarding yellow cards, but repeat offenders risk suspension.

Any player who receives five yellow cards within the first 19 league games of the season will serve a one game ban in the league. It is key to note that yellow cards are no longer transmitted to any of the domestic competitions, although red cards still do.

Reaching the 19-game mark offers relative respite, but the warnings from the first half of the season aren’t completely removed.

Those who accumulate 10 Premier League yellow cards before and including the 32nd game of the season must serve a further two-game suspension.

Which players are at risk of suspension?

The seven teams that will play their 19th game of the season this week are: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Brighton, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Leeds.

Accessories worth checking out are:

Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielders will have to check themselves on Wednesday at Selhurst Park. Both Casemiro and Fred have received four bookings this season, so another midweek booking would mean they are suspended for the trip to Arsenal on Sunday.

Jeffrey Schlupp and Joel Ward will also have to watch out on Wednesday as the Palace pair are also walking a tightrope.

Manchester City’s 19th game will see them host Tottenham on Thursday night, but with Erling Haaland and Joao Cancelo leading the way with just three bookings, there are no suspension worries for Pep Guardiola.

The same can be said for the Liverpool players in action at Stamford Bridge in the early start on Saturday, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s three yellow cards keeping him safe.

Alexis Mac Allister will have to keep an eye out during Brighton’s visit to the King Power Stadium at the weekend. The World Cup winner comes into that match with four yellow cards to his name: another would see him suspended for Bournemouth’s subsequent visit.

Jesse Marsch, whose team became the first in Premier League history to receive 100 yellow cards in one season last season, will have to remind some of his players to maintain discipline. Robin Koch, Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca are another warning away from suspension ahead of the visit to Brentford.

Last but not least: Arsenal chasing Mikel Arteta’s title.

Gabriel Jesus picked up all four of his yellow cards in a short time, but his injury will prevent any chance of suspension. However, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba will all have to be on their best behavior against Manchester United.

A booking for any of those three would see them miss out on the trip to Everton on Saturday, February 4.

Players at risk of suspension this week

• manchester united —Casemiro and Fred
• crystal Palace —Jeffrey Schlupp and Joel Ward
• manchester city – neither
• Liverpool – neither
• Brighton —Alexis MacAllister
• leeds —Robin Koch, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca
• Arsenal —Gabriel, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba

Which players have collected the most bookings in the Premier League this season?

Several players have already been forced to serve suspensions for their repeat offenses, leaving them at risk of further bans.

The all-important 32nd game of matches is scheduled to be played on the weekend of April 22. Once that round of matches is complete, there are no further suspension risks associated with receiving individual yellow cards.

Here is the list of the players who have collected the most bookings this season.

7 —Ruben Neves.

6 —Joelinton, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Cheick Doucoure, Anthony Gordon, Marc Guehi, Joao Palhinha, Kenny Tete, Ivan Toney.

5 — Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Bruno Fernandes, Moises Caicedo, Diogo Dalot, Andreas Pereira, James Maddison, Scott McTominay, Chris Mepham, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Amadou Onana, Harrison Reed, Antonee Robinson, Adam Smith.

Aside from Andreas Pereira, who was shown his fifth yellow card after Fulham had already played 19 games, each of the players mentioned has had to serve a one-match suspension this season.

Ruben Neves is shown a yellow card, a familiar Premier League sight (Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Which teams have racked up the most cards in the Premier League this season?

Fulham have been the worst offenders in terms of discipline this season.

Marco Silva’s players have seen 49 yellow cards and one red card, a record that looks set to challenge the mark set by Leeds last season (101 yellows and three reds).

At the other end of the spectrum, Manchester City have collected the fewest bookings. Their tally of 17 yellows is one less than Liverpool – both teams have been shown a red card each.

Here’s what the Premier League disciplinary table looks like, in order of most yellow cards:

1. fulham — 49 yellow cards, one red card
2. manchester united — 46 yellow cards, no red cards
3. astonville — 43 yellow cards, one red card
4. nottingham forest — 42 yellow cards, no red cards
5. crystal Palace — 41 yellow cards, two red cards
6. Everton — 41 yellow cards, no red cards
7. chelsea — 39 yellow cards, three red cards
8. Wolves — 39 yellow cards, three red cards
9. leeds — 38 yellow cards, two red cards
10. tottenham — 37 yellow cards, one red card
11. newcastle — 34 yellow cards, no red cards
12. bournemouth — 32 yellow cards, no red cards
13. Arsenal — 32 yellow cards, no red cards
14. southampton — 31 yellow cards, no red cards
15. brentford — 26 yellow cards, no red cards
16. Brighton — 26 yellow cards, no red cards
17. west ham — 25 yellow cards, no red cards
18. leicester — 24 yellow cards, no red cards
19. Liverpool — 18 yellow cards, one red card
20. manchester city — 17 yellow cards, one red card

(Top photo: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)