The 10 Longest Bans In Premier League History

From betting scandals to failed drug tests to kung-fu kicking fans in the head. Here are the 10 longest football bans in Premier League history.

As the biggest football league in the world, the Premier League has witnessed its fair share of scandals. One such area that has often made headlines is the issue of player bans.

From on-field altercations to off-field misdemeanours, the league has bore witness to an eclectic mix of colourful characters who have landed themselves in hot water.

Let’s delve into the 10 longest bans in Premier League history.

Longest Bans In Premier League History

10. Joey Barton (12 Games)

Known for his fiery temperament, Joey Barton’s career was marred by incidents of misconduct. His aggressive behaviour and confrontational attitude frequently landed him in hot water.

In 2012, while playing for Queens Park Rangers, he was involved in a brawl with Manchester City players, where he elbowed Carlos Tevez, kicked Sergio Aguero, and attempted to headbutt Vincent Kompany.

This shameful episode resulted in a 12-game ban and a hefty £75,000 fine for Barton. 

9. Kolo Toure (Six Months)

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure found himself in a controversial situation in 2011 when he tested positive for a banned substance.

While he claimed it was an accidental ingestion of a medication his wife was taking, he was initially handed a six-month ban.

Toure vehemently denied any wrongdoing and appealed the decision, claiming that the substance was taken unknowingly.

8. Adrian Mutu (Seven Months)

Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu’s career was derailed in 2004 when he tested positive for cocaine. The Romanian forward was subsequently banned for seven months, fined £20,000, and immediately released by the club.

The incident led to a bitter legal dispute between Mutu and Chelsea, with the club seeking substantial compensation for breach of contract.

Mutu was later forced to pay £15.2 million in damages to his former employers – the largest financial penalty in football history. He was then banned again in 2010 while playing for Fiorentina after testing positive for the banned substance sibutramine.

7. Ivan Toney (Eight Months)

In 2023, now ex-Brentford striker Ivan Toney was handed an eight-month ban and a £50,000 fine for breaching the FA’s betting rules on 232 counts.

The FA initially sought a 15-month ban for Toney, citing his alleged lies about gambling and attempts to destroy evidence.

However, Toney’s admission of guilt and a subsequent diagnosis of gambling addiction resulted in a significant reduction of the suspension to eight months.

Toney had placed bets on a large number of matches, including games involving his own team. The suspension was a significant setback for the Brentford talisman and perhaps prevented him from making a move to a major Champions League club.

6. Rio Ferdinand (Eight Months)

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand faced an eight-month ban in 2004 after missing a scheduled drug test.

Ferdinand claimed that he had forgotten about the test and was out shopping at the time. Despite later taking the test and passing, he was given a lengthy suspension and a £50,000.

The incident caused a significant stir, as Ferdinand missed out on the opportunity to represent England at Euro 2004.

5. Eric Cantona (Nine Months)

One of the most iconic moments in Premier League history was Eric Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan.

During a heated match at Selhurst Park in 1995, Cantona was sent off for a clash with Palace defender Richard Shaw. As he was leaving the field, he leaped into the stands and struck a kick at a Palace supporter, before throwing a series of punches.

The incident resulted in a nine-month ban and a £30,000 fine, and he was also charged for criminal assault, marking a low point in the French forward’s career.

4. Mark Bosnich (Nine Months)

Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was banned for nine months in 2002 after testing positive for cocaine. The Australian shot-stopper’s career was cut short by the scandal, which brought an abrupt end to his time at Chelsea.

Bosnich spiralled into a cocaine addiction and became a recluse. At one point, he almost shot his father with an air rifle after mistaking him for an intruder.

Thankfully, Bosnich is clean now and works regularly as a football analyst and pundit for Fox Sports.

3. Sandro Tonali (10 Months)

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali was handed a 10-month ban in 2023 for breaching betting rules. As a result, the Italian missed almost all of the 2023/24 season as well as the Euro 2024 tournament.

Tonali had placed bets on a number of matches, including games involving his own team. The suspension was a major blow to Newcastle, who had not long signed the midfielder from AC Milan for a significant fee.

2. Abel Xavier (12 Months)

Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier was banned for 12 months in 2005 after testing positive for the banned substance methandrostenolone (also known as dianabol).

He was originally handed an 18-month ban, but the suspension was reduced. The Portuguese player was the first Premier League player to be banned for doping.

1. Joey Barton (13 Months)

Joey Barton once again tops the list of longest bans in Premier League history. In 2016, while playing for Burnley, he was banned for 13 months for placing bets on a large number of matches. The ban was originally for 18 months but was reduced by five on appeal.

The suspension effectively ended his playing career, and the controversial figure went into management, first taking over at Fleetwood Town.