The Longest Bans in Premier League History as Sandro Tonali Shoots to Third

Sandro Tonali is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, thanks to his transgressions when he was playing for Milan.

Tonali, 23, was found to have breached betting rules and was effectively banned by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Thursday, October 26.

The rule prohibits a player from placing a bet on football events organized by FIGC, Uefa and Fifa, with Tonali admitting to placing bets on his previous team AC Milan when he was still playing for the club.

According to BBC, Tonali will still be available to train with Newcastle, although the ban effectively means his season with Newcastle is over. He will also miss Euro 2024.

Tonali joins a long list of Premier League stars who have previously been slapped with hefty bans in the past.

His 10-month ban puts him third on the list of the longest punishments imposed on Premier League players on various grounds.

Sports Brief ranks the players who have had the longest bans in English top tier:

15. Aleksandrar Mitrovic – 8 games

In March 2023, Mitrovic was on the spot for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh in frustration during an FA Cup tie. He was handed an eight-game ban as a result.

14. Luis Suarez – 8 games

Then a Liverpool player, Suarez was banned for eight games after he was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

13. Luis Suarez – 10 games

It goes without saying that Suarez was a serial trouble maker during his early days in the Premier League.

On a separate occasion, the Uruguay international received a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in what is still one of the most controversial moments in Premier League history.

12. David Prutton – 10 games

In 2005, during a game between Southampton and Arsenal, Prutton shoved the referee - an action that cost him £6,000 fine and a 10-game ban.

11. Paolo Di Canio - 11 games

Another player who received a ban for shoving the referee was former Chelsea ace Di Canio, who was banned for 11 games after he pushed referee Paul Alcock after receiving a red card before storming off the pitch.

10. Joey Barton – 12 games

Joey Barton went on a rampage during a game between QPR and Manchester City a little over a decade ago.

The QPR captain infamously embarked on a three-man assault as he got into a confrontation with Carlos Tevez (who he elbowed), Sergio Aguero (who he kicked) and Vincent Kompany (who he attempted to headbutt).

9. Kolo Toure - 6 months

Former Man City and Arsenal defender Kolo Toure tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in 2011 and inevitably had to be banned for six months. The ban was eventually overturned as he was deemed to have taken the substances unknowingly.

8. Adrian Mutu – 7 months

Still on lengthy bans, former Chelsea ace Adrian Mutu received a seven-month ban after testing positive for 'coke' in 2004. He had his contact terminated by Chelsea almost immediately.

7. Ivan Toney - 8 months

This is a more recent one as Ivan Toney was slapped with an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules. He is due to return on January 24, and has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal.

6. Rio Ferdinand 8 months

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand was banned for eight months back in 2003 after missing a scheduled drug test, an event which he claims inspired him. He was also fined £50,000.

5. Eric Cantona - 9 months

Fans with long memories will remember this incident that saw Eric Cantona completely lose his head in 1995.

The Frenchman infamously kung-fu kicked a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park, and later admitted to a charge of assault, He was given a nine-month ban and 120 hours of community service.

4. Mark Bosnich - 9 months

This is another player who was handed a nine-month ban for testing positive for 'coke'

Bosnich, an Australian, was playing for Chelsea at the time but was sacked by the club soon after, as cited on Sky Sports.

3. Sandro Tonali – 10 months

We’ve mentioned about Tonali earlier, as the Italian’s absence is likely to deal Newcastle United and Eddie Howe a major blow in the long run.

2. Alex Xavier – 12 months

From proceedings, it is clear to see the longest bans in the Premier League mainly come from testing positive for illegal or banned substances.

Xavier, who was playing for Middlesbrough at the time, was banned for a year and half after testing positive for an anabolic steroid named Dianabol - mostly used by bodybuilders. The ban was later slashed to 12 months.

1. Joey Barton – 13 months

And the award for the longest ban in the Premier League goes to Joey Barton, who was banned for an initial 18 months for astronomical betting breaches.

Barton was found to have placed bets on 1,260 different matches between 26 March 2006 and 13 May 2016. His ban was reduced by five months, but damage had already been done and he hung his boots soon after.

Diogo Jota dedicates goal to Luis Diaz

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on a classy gesture made by Diogo Jota as he dedicated his goal to Luis Diaz on Sunday, October 29.

Diaz was left out of the squad to face Nottingham Forest amid reports his parents were kidnapped in his native Colombia.

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Her mother has been found, but at the time of publication of this article, the winger’s dad was still missing.