Football

The 38 Premier League Players That Could Miss Boxing Day Fixtures Over Yellow Card Suspensions

James Lloyd Sports Editor

Published25 Dec 2024

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With Boxing Day football fast approaching, the Premier League faces the prospect of nearly 40 players missing out due to suspensions from accumulating yellow cards.

The iconic day of Gameweek 17.

Yellow Card Rule: How It Works

The Premier League’s disciplinary system dictates that any player who receives five yellow cards in the first 19 games of the season incurs a one-match suspension.

For some players, this means a fifth booking in the matches could result in missing the Boxing Day fixtures, a cherished tradition in English football.

Players who have already served bans for five bookings or who are past the yellow card threshold will only face suspension again after receiving 10 yellow cards.

Players Suspended for Gameweek 17

Seven stars have already faced bans for crossing the yellow card threshold and will return in Gameweek 17. These include:

Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Pedro Neto (Wolves)
Emerson (Tottenham)
Yves Bissouma (Tottenham)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
Boubakary Soumare (Leicester)
Joao Gomes (Wolves)

Additionally, Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Joelinton (Newcastle), Carlos Soler (West Ham), and Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace) will sit out Gameweek 17 having picked up five bookings.

Players One Card Away From Boxing Day Suspension… 🟨🟥

Who’s having Xmas Off Then!? 👀🎄 pic.twitter.com/lq1cURL2LB

— The Football Card Tipster (@thecardstipster) December 19, 2024

38 Players at Risk of Boxing Day Ban

Among the 38 players walking the disciplinary tightrope, several high-profile stars from title contenders and mid-table battlers alike are at risk:

Liverpool’s Concerns

Ibrahima Konate: The towering French defender is one booking away from a suspension, although he is already out through injury.
Ryan Gravenberch: One of the standout midfielders this season, Gravenberch has been instrumental in Liverpool’s resurgence. He will miss the Boxing Day fixture against Leicester should he pick up one more yellow.
Darwin Nunez: Nunez’s potential absence could impact Liverpool’s Boxing Day plans in attack.

Chelsea’s Key Men

Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez: Both players have featured almost every game for Chelsea this season. Losing either to suspension could hinder the Blues in the West London derby clash with Fulham on Boxing Day.

Arsenal’s Risk

Gabriel Jesus: Wednesday night’s hattrick hero could be forced to miss Arsenal’s game against Ipswich the night after Boxing Day if cautioned this weekend.

Full List of Players on Four Yellow Cards

Here’s the comprehensive list of players who are one caution away from a suspension:

Player	Club
Gabriel Jesus	Arsenal
Morgan Rogers	Aston Villa
Lewis Cook	Bournemouth
Justin Kluivert	Bournemouth
Marcos Senesi	Bournemouth
Lewis Dunk	Brighton
Jan Paul van Hecke	Brighton
Nicolas Jackson	Chelsea
Robert Sanchez	Chelsea
Jefferson Lerma	Crystal Palace
Michael Keane	Everton
Ashley Young	Everton
Liam Delap	Ipswich
Sam Morsy	Ipswich
Wilfred Ndidi	Leicester
Oliver Skipp	Leicester
Jamie Vardy	Leicester
Ryan Gravenberch	Liverpool
Ibrahima Konate	Liverpool
Darwin Nunez	Liverpool
Bernardo Silva	Manchester City
Harry Maguire	Manchester United
Fabian Schar	Newcastle
Sandro Tonali	Newcastle
Nicolas Domínguez	Nottingham Forest
Neco Williams	Nottingham Forest
Ryan Yates	Nottingham Forest
Adam Armstrong	Southampton
Mateus Fernandes	Southampton
Adam Lallana	Southampton
Micky van de Ven	Tottenham
Lucas Paqueta	West Ham
Guido Rodriguez	West Ham
Tomas Soucek	West Ham
Edson Alvarez	West Ham
Rayan Ait-Nouri	Wolves
Toti Gomes	Wolves
Mario Lemina	Wolves