The Premier League is by far the most entertaining and watched football competition in the world. It constantly provides interesting and exciting matches, regardless of who is playing.
But, this top-flight English league is also one of the harshest of all. The FA, UEFA, and FIFA are well-known for their rigid cruelty when it comes to suspending players who break the rules. In this article, we’ll reveal some of the most brutal suspensions in the history of the Premier League.
1. Joey Barton: 13 Months for Betting on 1,260 Matches
We start off with one of the nastiest players that ever played in this league. During his career, he collected 114 yellow and 9 red cards, which got him suspended for many matches.
However, his longest ban came after the FA caught him betting on 1,260 matches between March 2006 and May 2013. But, this wasn’t his initial suspension. The FA at first imposed a ban of 18 months. Every football association in the world prohibits players and managers from gambling on sports.
2. Abel Xavier: 12 Months for Taking Anabolic Steroids
Next, we have the famous Portuguese defender Abel Xavier, who played for Everton, Liverpool, and Middlesbrough. In November 2005, this player got an 18-month ban from UEFA after he tested positive for anabolic steroids.
Somewhat luckily for him, the Court of Arbitration for Sport lowered his suspension to 12 months. This occurred during the summer of 2006. This allowed him to get back on the pitch earlier in the new season.
3. Sandro Tonali: A 10-Month Ban for Breaching the Italian Betting Rules
Just a couple of months since joining Newcastle for a record fee of £60 million, Tonali received a 10-month ban. This came after the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and the Italian Football Federation conducted an investigation for alleged illegal betting.
As a result of the ban, Tonali missed the rest of the 2023/24 season as well as EURO 2024. The FA also banned him for two months after he breached the betting rules while at Newcastle. However, The FA allowed him to return to play as long as he didn’t break the same rules during the 2024/25 season.
4. Mark Bosnich: Testing Positing Got Him a 9-Moth Ban
This Australian player was a back-up goalkeeper at Chelsea until December 2022. He joined one year earlier from Manchester United on a free transfer. But, the Blues had to sack Bosnich after he tested positive for cocaine.
The goalkeeper even tried to appeal the ban, but eventually lost. After that, he started training with Portsmouth who were newcomers at that time. However, he never joined them as he went on a 5-year career break.
5. Eric Cantona: Kicking a Fan Resulted in an 8-Month Ban
During his time at Manchester United, Cantona has scored some incredible goals. But, many fans still find his kung-fu kicking a fan his most memorable moment. The incident occurred after he got a red card during a match against Crystal Palace in 1995.
After the event, Cantona receives a 9-month ban and a fine of £30,000 by the FA. On top of that, he even got 120 hours of community service.
6. Rio Ferdinand: 8 Months for Missing a Scheduled Drug Test
In December 2003, former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, missed a scheduled drug test. The player claimed that he was out shopping instead. This got him an 8-month ban from football and a fine of £50,000.
However, it’s worth pointing out that Ferdinand did take the test later on and it was negative. He even appealed the ruling, but the FA rejected every single one of his attempts.
7. Ivan Toney: A Breach of Betting Rules Resulted in an 8-Month Suspension
Last but not least, we have Ivan Toney, the former top striker of Brentford. The FA charged this player with 232 breaches that occurred between 2017 and 2021. This resulted in a ban of 8 months plus a fine of £50,000.
When he got back on the pitch in 2024, he failed to pick up his previous form. In the summer transfer period, Toney decided to leave the Premier League for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
The Rise of Sports Betting and Its Consequences
As online sports betting grows, football has seen a surge in players gambling, leading to bans and raising concerns about match-fixing. High-profile cases, like Joey Barton’s 13-month suspension for betting on matches and Ivan Toney’s breach of betting rules, highlight the seriousness of these violations. Governing bodies impose harsh penalties to protect the integrity of the sport.
For fans looking to enjoy sports betting responsibly, online platforms continue to offer various legitimate avenues, such as betting sign-up offers on GG. For those following the industry, staying informed about developments like these is key, especially as sports betting continues to influence football globally.
