Here is the list of players with the longest bans in Premier League history
Sandro Tonali, a midfielder for Newcastle United, has been suspended from football for ten months due to violations of Italian Football Federation (FIGC) regulations on match betting.
List of the top 10 longest bans in Premier League history and why were players banned
Tonali received an 18-month ban after reaching a deal with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office; eight of those months will be spent on alternative treatment, as confirmed by the FIGC. The player was further fined $21,084 for violating the rules. In the wake of this news, let us have a look at the list of players banned for the longest version of time.
🚨⚪️⚫️ Sandro Tonali will be banned for 10 month — sources confirm final indications, waiting on statement.
He won’t be able to play for 10 months due to gambling addition scandal.
There will be additional months of participation in gambling rehab plan, same as Nicoló Fagioli. pic.twitter.com/USw2ynRE9V
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 25, 2023
Longest Premier League bans all-time
1- Joey Barton – 18 months
Joey Barton, a midfielder for Burnley, wasbsuspended by the FA for eighteen months from “all football activity” and football. He admitted a charge of FA misconduct after it was “alleged that between 26 March 2006 and 13 May 2016, he placed 1,260 bets on the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in, football matches or competitions in breach of FA Rule E8.”
2- Alex Xavier – 12 months
Alex Xavier, a Middlesbrough player at the time, had a year and a half-long ban after testing positive for Dianabol, an anabolic steroid that bodybuilders primarily take. Later, the suspension was reduced to 12 months.
3- Sandro Tonali – 10 months
The head of the Italian football federation (FIGC) said on Thursday that midfielder Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United has been suspended from football for ten months due to violations of the regulations governing match betting in Italy.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the FIGC negotiated a deal, and Tonali was given an 18-month ban, eight of which will be remitted to alternative treatment.
4- Mark Bosnich – 9 months
Mark was tested positive for “coke” and received a nine-month suspension.
5- Eric Cantona – 9 months
After the man gained notoriety for kung-fu-kicking a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park, he confessed to the assault charge and received a nine-month ban along with 120 hours of community service.
6- Rio Ferdinand 8 months
Rio Ferdinand, the legend of Manchester United, was suspended for eight months in 2003 for skipping a scheduled drug test, an incident he claims served as inspiration. £50,000 was also penalised to him.
7- Ivan Toney – 8 months
Ivan Toney received an eight-month suspension for breaking the betting regulations.
8- Adrian Mutu – 7 months
After testing positive for “coke” in 2004, Adrian Mutu was suspended for seven months.
9- Kolo Toure – 6 months
2011 saw Kolo Toure test positive for performance-enhancing drugs, which ultimately resulted in a six-month suspension.
10- Joey Barton – 12 games
Joey Barton notoriously launched a three-man assault, violently shoving Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, and Vincent Kompany, kicking and headbutting him respectively.
11- Paolo Di Canio – 11 games
Di Canio, the former star player for Chelsea, was banished for 11 games for pushing referee Paul Alcock after he was given a red card and stormed off the field.
12- David Prutton – 10 games
Prutton received a £6,000 fine and a 10-game penalty for pushing the referee.
13- Luis Suarez – 10 games and 8 games
Luis Suarez was banned twice. Following his conviction for racially assaulting Patrice Evra of Manchester United, Suarez received an eight-game suspension. He played for Liverpool that time. The Uruguayan international was also given a 10-game suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in one of the most contentious incidents in Premier League history.
14- Aleksandrar Mitrovic – 8 games
During an FA Cup match in March 2023, Mitrovic was ejected for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh out of irritation. As a result, he was suspended for eight games.