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News
11 longest bans in Premier League history as Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur faces seven game suspension
Tottenham are set to be without Rodrigo Bentancur for seven Premier League games.
The Uruguay international landed himself in hot water with the Football Association following an interview on Uruguayan TV – in which he allegedly said “more or less they are all the same” when discussing South Koreans.
Tottenham are yet to receive confirmation that Rodrigo Bentancur is definitely banned for seven games, but – according to the – the South American is expected to be suspended for that amount of time.
Bentancur would have added another game to this amount had he been booked in Sunday’s 2-1 loss against Ipswich, as he sits on four yellow cards in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
In light of the news, let’s take a look at the 11 longest bans in Premier League history.
How Rodrigo Bentancur ban compares to other suspensions
Luis Suarez – 10 games
Another Uruguayan in Luis Suarez found himself banned for ten games back in the 2012/13 season after bizarrely biting Branislav Ivanovic.
The now Inter Miami No.9 also received a suspension for eight games after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in October 2011.
David Prutton – 10 games
David Prutton landed himself a similar ban to Suarez after choosing to shove referee Alan Wiley during a Premier League clash between Southampton and Arsenal back in 2005.
He was also handed a £6,000 fine.
Paolo Di Canio – 11 games
Like Prutton, Paolo Di Canio also shoved a referee when opting to lay hands on Paul Alcock while playing for Sheffield Wednesday back in 1998.
The official’s staggered fall to the ground was quite amusing, but it did not dilute the severity of the incident, landing the Italian one of English football’s longest suspensions and a £10,000 fine.
Joey Barton – 12 games
Anybody who tuned into that famous Premier League clash between Manchester City and QPR back in the 2011/12 campaign will know all about this one.
Joey Barton completely lost his head, kneeing Sergio Aguero up the backside and trying to headbutt Vincent Kompany too – having already elbowed Carlos Tevez.
The actions landed him a £75,000 fine along with his 12-game ban.
Kolo Toure – Six months
Kolo Toure was made to spend six months on the sidelines after failing a drug test back in 2011 – testing positive for a prohibited substance, which he claimed were his wife’s slimming pills.
The Ivorian seemingly made an innocent mistake, and he was welcomed back into the Manchester City side once his ban had been served.
Adrian Mutu – Seven months
Like Toure, Adrian Mutu also failed a drugs test, although the situation was not as innocent.
The Romanian tested positive for using cocaine, leading Chelsea to sack him with immediate effect – FIFA later ordered Mutu to pay the Blues £16m for breaching his contract.
Ivan Toney – Eight months
A more recent situation than the above, Ivan Toney was banned for eight months – following 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules.
The England international was also made to pay a £50,000 fine.
Rio Ferdinand – Eight months
Rio Ferdinand was also banned for eight months after missing a scheduled drug test at Manchester United back in December 2003.
The Englishman later took the test and passed, but that was not good enough for the FA – who ordered him to miss the rest of the season at Old Trafford, sit out UEFA Euro 2004 and also pay a £50,000 fine.
Eric Cantona – Nine months
This one needs little explanation given the fame of the incident.
Eric Cantona memorably kung-fu kicked a Crystal Palace fan at Selhurst Park back in 1995, landing himself 120 hours of community service and a £30,000 fine, as well as nine months out of football.
Sandro Tonali – 10 months
Shortly after arriving at Newcastle in a £55m move from AC Milan, Sandro Tonali was slapped with a ten-month ban for breaching betting rules, like Toney did.
Abel Xavier – 12 months
Abel Xavier received a year-long suspension while playing for Middlesbrough back in 2005, after testing positive for anabolic steroids.
It was initially an 18-month ban, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport cut it by six months.