How cards and suspensions work in the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season

May 2024 · 4 minute read

Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson on Sunday earned the unwanted distinction of becoming the first Premier League player this season to earn a one-match suspension because of the number of bookings he has received.

The 22-year-old striker, who only moved to Chelsea from Spanish side Villarreal in July, has received five yellow cards in his first six matches in the English top-flight. His latest, against Aston Villa, means he will now miss Chelsea’s next league match, a London derby against Fulham.

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But Jackson is allowed to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup tonight, despite the fact that Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope missed last season’s final because of a red card he was shown in the Premier League.

Confused? You’re not the only one. The rules around suspensions in English football vary from competition to competition and have changed several times down the years.

Here’s what you need to know.

What are the yellow card suspension rules?

In the Premier League, players who collect five yellow cards in the first half of the season — the first 19 games — will be given a one-match suspension.

That ban is competition-specific, which means it has to be served in the league. Hence why Jackson cannot play against Fulham but can play in the Carabao Cup third round meeting with Brighton.

The next milestone is 10 bookings in the first 32 league games of the Premier League season. If a player reaches double figures for yellow cards in that time, a two-match suspension will be issued.

Joao Palhinha was shown 14 yellow cards last season, tying the Premier League record (Photo: Paul Harding/Getty Images)

That might not be the full extent of the punishments as, with the stricter rules that came into effect at the beginning of the season, players are likely to collect more cautions than ever before.

Any players who are shown 15 yellow cards in the Premier League season will receive a three-match suspension. And players who collect 20 bookings risk being charged with misconduct by the FA. The record in one Premier League season (shared by seven players) stands at 14, however.

As for cup competitions, if a player is shown two yellow cards throughout an individual FA Cup or Carabao Cup campaign, they will serve a suspension during the next match in the competition. The slate is wiped clean in both after the quarter-final stage, meaning the only way to be suspended for the final is through a red card.

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Meanwhile, UEFA and international games work differently. Suspensions picked up in the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League must be served in UEFA competition while FIFA competitions follow a similar rule.

What about red cards?

The rules regarding red cards are more complex as they are not competition-specific. That means a red card received in the Premier League could lead to a player missing a cup game.

Newcastle United supporters will be only too familiar with that rule, after Pope’s red card against Liverpool in the league in February ruled him out of the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.

That said, Eddie Howe’s side did benefit from the application of those rules as Bruno Guimaraes was dismissed in the semi-final but served his three-match suspension in the Premier League rather than missing the final. Not that it mattered. Newcastle lost the final 2-0.

Pope was shown red for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The severity of his punishment was because he was adjudged to have committed serious foul play. The extent of suspensions are calculated as follows:

If players are shown a second red card during a season, a one-match ban will be added on top of the suspension for their offence.

A third dismissal will lead to two additional matches on the suspension, a fourth will add three matches, and so on.

Which Premier League players are already at risk of suspension?

A number of Premier League players need to remain disciplined over the coming weeks. Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon is now the only man one yellow card away from a ban, but there are plenty that have already picked up three in the league this season.

Most Premier League yellow cards

Stats correct as of September 27

5Nicolas Jackson

4 – Anthony Gordon

3Anel Ahmedhodzic, Ola Aina, Edson Alvarez, Yves Bissouma, Bruno Fernandes, Jarrad Branthwaite, Nelson Semedo, Ben Chilwell, Lucas Digne, Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes, Aaron Hickey, Mario Lemina, Orel Mangala, Emerson Palmieri, Douglas Luiz, Lucas Paqueta

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

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