Football may be a beautiful game but sometimes it gets a little ugly. Beyond the goals, glory, and gushing cheers, there’s a side of the Premier League where players push their luck and the rulebook just a bit too far.
From outrageous on-pitch antics to betting blunders and drug scandals, the league has seen its fair share of unforgettable bans that left fans shaking their heads and referees blowing more than just their whistles.
In this article, we’re looking into the 10 longest bans in Premier League history.
1. Joey Barton – 13 Months
Barton isn’t just remembered for his questionable tackles or his ability to rile up opponents and fans alike; his extracurricular activities earned him the title of football’s most notorious gambler.
In 2017, he received an 18-month ban after it was revealed he had placed bets on over 1,200 matches, including his own team’s games.
That’s more betting than some people do on a weekend in Las Vegas. To his credit, Barton did what he always does: he fought back. The ban was reduced to 13 months, but it was too little, too late.
His contract with Burnley was torn up, and Barton, never one to go quietly into the night, had to hang up his boots earlier than expected.
His response? “I think if they were serious about tackling gambling, they wouldn’t let it sponsor the league.” Well, Joey, that’s one way to look at it.
2. Abel Xavier – 12 Months
A man known for his bleached-blonde hair and beard combo that could give Gandalf a run for his money was the first Premier League player to be banned for doping.
In 2005, while playing for Middlesbrough, Xavier tested positive for Dianabol, a steroid that’s more at home in bodybuilding competitions than in football.
After a UEFA Cup match, Xavier’s sample lit up leading to an 18-month ban.
Fortunately for him, the Court of Arbitration for Sport was feeling generous, and they reduced it to 12 months. He returned to football, but the scandal had already tarnished his reputation.
3. Joey Barton – 12 Games
We circle back to our old friend Joey Barton who in 2012 decided that if he was going down, he might as well take a few others with him.
In a match between QPR and Manchester City, Barton was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez. But Barton being Barton, he wasn’t done. He then kicked Sergio Aguero and tried to headbutt Vincent Kompany before finally leaving the pitch.
The result? A 12-game ban and a £75,000 fine.
4. Sandro Tonali – 10 Months
The betting bug strikes again, this time sinking its teeth into Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.
The Italian midfielder brought in from AC Milan for £55 million, was meant to be a game-changer for Newcastle. Instead, he became an unwitting gambler.
For breaching betting rules, Tonali was slapped with a 10-month ban in 2023, sidelining him for the majority of Newcastle’s campaign and forcing him to miss Euro 2024 with Italy.
While he didn’t quite hit Barton’s levels of betting, the impact on Newcastle was just as significant. If there’s one thing Newcastle fans have learned, it’s that you can’t bet on a sure thing.
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5. Eric Cantona – 9 Months
In January 1995, the former Manchester United player launched himself into the crowd to deliver a flying kick to a Crystal Palace fan after being sent off.
The incident stunned the world and earned Cantona a nine-month ban from football, alongside a £30,000 fine and 120 hours of community service.
While the incident could have tarnished anyone else’s legacy, Cantona emerged from the ban with his mystique intact.
When asked about the moment years later, he casually declared it “his best moment in a Manchester United shirt.” Only Cantona could turn an assault into folklore.
6. Mark Bosnich – 9 Months
His time at Chelsea ended not with a whimper but with a bump of cocaine. The Australian goalkeeper tested positive for the drug in September 2002, leading to a nine-month ban. Chelsea promptly terminated his contract, leaving him to wallow in football exile.
Despite his efforts to appeal he couldn’t escape the consequences of his choices. His career stalled, and he spent five years away from the game. It was a tragic fall for a man who once graced the goals of Manchester United.
The saddest part? His post-ban comeback was a shadow of his former self, showing that in football, the highs and lows come fast – literally, in Bosnich’s case.
7. Ivan Toney – 8 Months
Last year, Ivan Toney found himself at the center of one of the biggest scandals in recent Premier League history. The Brentford striker was found guilty of 232 breaches of the FA’s betting laws, earning himself an eight-month ban.
On top of that, he was slapped with a £50,000 fine, which must have stung almost as much as the ban itself.
Toney’s absence left a massive hole in Brentford’s lineup, and though he returned in 2024, he struggled to recapture his pre-ban form. From top striker to benchwarmer, Toney’s career took a hit that no bet could have predicted, and now he has moved to Saudi.
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8. Rio Ferdinand – 8 Months
Ferdinand didn’t fail a drug test; he just didn’t take one. In December 2003, the defender claimed he was “out shopping” when he missed a scheduled drug test.
Though he later took and passed the test, the FA wasn’t amused and handed him an eight-month ban along with a £50,000 fine.
His absence was sorely felt by both Man United and the England national team, as he missed the rest of the Premier League season and Euro 2004.
It remains one of the more peculiar bans in Premier League history – a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or more accurately, at the mall instead of the lab.
9. Adrian Mutu – 7 Months
Chelsea’s second cocaine casualty comes in the form of Adrian Mutu.
In 2004, Mutu tested positive for cocaine leading to a seven-month ban and the immediate termination of his contract.
The Stamford Bridge weren’t just content with kicking him out, they demanded financial compensation, and Mutu eventually had to cough up £16 million in damages, a record fee for any player, even in disgrace.
Mutu’s fall from grace was spectacular, but he found a way back into football.
After completing a rehab program, Mutu played on, though his best years were firmly behind him.
10. Kolo Toure – 6 Months
In 2011, Toure then playing for Manchester City, tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
The Ivorian defender claimed it was a simple mistake – he had taken his wife’s water tablets, not realizing they contained a banned substance. Despite his innocent plea, he was handed a six-month ban.
The FA accepted that he hadn’t intended to cheat, which may have softened the punishment. Still, for six months Toure had to watch from the sidelines, a harsh reminder that in football, even the smallest mistakes can have massive consequences.
