Lewis Dunk has become the first payer of the 2025-26 Premier League season to receive a two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards.
Published March 24, 2026 • Source: bbc.com
By Jonty Colman
Lewis Dunk has become the first payer of the 2025-26 Premier League season to receive a two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards.
The Brighton and Hove Albion defender was booked for time-wasting in his side's 2-1 victory over Liverpool, meaning he reached the threshold for disciplinary action for the second time this season, having already served a one-match ban for receiving five yellows before 3 January.
Several other Premier League players who were close to a one-match ban after accumulating four yellow cards have found themselves on much safer ground since that date, which saw the threshold for a ban rise from five to 10 yellow cards.
Until that point in the season, players received a one-match ban for being shown five yellow cards in their side's first 19 Premier League matches.
But after 19 games, the ban moved to 10 yellow cards - albeit with a harsher punishment. Players who accumulate 10 yellow cards prior to the conclusion of the 32nd game receive a ban of two matches rather than one.
Total yellow cards received before 3 January were carried into the next phase of games, but players on four yellow cards are no longer one card away from suspension until they reach nine yellow cards.
Should any players receive 15 yellow cards in a season, they will acquire a three-match suspension.
Four players are currently one yellow card away from a two-match suspension, and a number of players are also only two bookings shy of a ban.
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Who is close to a two-match suspension?
Andre (Wolves) - nine yellows
Yerson Mosquera (Wolves) - nine yellows
Lewis Dunk (Brighton) - nine yellows
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) - nine yellows
Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) - nine yellows
Diego Gomez (Brighton) - nine yellows
Joelinton (Newcastle) - nine yellows
Alex Jimenez (Bournemouth) - nine yellows
Cristian Romero (Tottenham) - eight yellows
Kyle Walker (Burnley) - eight yellows
Tim Iroegbunam (Everton) - eight yellows
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) - eight yellows
Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) - eight yellows
Who is currently suspended?
Three players will now miss the next round of Premier League matches because of yellow or red-card suspensions.
Lewis Dunk (Brighton) - nine yellows (two-match ban)
Harry Maguire (Manchester United) - red card suspension (one-match ban)
Josh Laurent (Burnley) - red card suspension (one-match ban)
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