The 9 Longest Premier League Bans of All-Time
- Think Football Ideas
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 1
The Premier League has never been short on drama, but not all of it comes from the football itself. While we’re used to jaw-dropping goals and last-minute winners, there’s another side to the game that grabs headlines: players getting slapped with massive bans. Whether it's for betting, drugs, or just completely losing the plot, some of these suspensions are truly wild.
We’re talking months on the sidelines. Careers derailed. Reputations shredded. And in a few cases, let’s be honest, pure chaos. So, let’s dig into the 9 longest bans in Premier League history, and brace yourself for a few “Wait, what?!” moments along the way.
Here Are The 9 Longest Premier League Bans of All Time
9. Kolo Toure – Six Months
Tested Positive For Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Back in 2011, Manchester City defender Kolo Toure found himself at the centre of a doping scandal that shook English football. The Ivorian international tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance during routine testing.
Though Toure claimed it was accidental, blaming his wife’s water tablets, the Football Association stood firm with a six-month ban. This ruling kept him out of action for half a year, a tough pill to swallow for a player at the peak of his career.
8. Adrian Mutu – Seven Months
Tested Positive For Cocaine While At Chelsea
Chelsea fans remember Adrian Mutu’s raw talent and the devastating fall that came with his off-field issues.
In September 2004, the Romanian forward was banned for seven months after testing positive for cocaine. Chelsea didn’t waste time and terminated his contract immediately. Mutu faced not just the ban but also a £20,000 fine, and his reputation took a massive hit.
He later committed to rehab, but this period marked a major setback in what could have been a stellar Premier League career.
7. Ivan Toney – Eight Months
Breached FA Betting Rules 232 Times
Ex-Brentford striker Ivan Toney’s ban made headlines recently when it was revealed that he had committed 232 breaches of the FA’s betting regulations over a four-year span from 2017 to 2021. In 2023, the FA handed him an eight-month suspension along with a £50,000 fine.
Toney publicly expressed his disappointment but accepted the punishment. The ban sidelined one of the Premier League’s most promising forwards, and upon his return, he found some form but eventually sealed a move away from the G-tech Stadium.
6. Rio Ferdinand – Eight Months
Missed A Scheduled Drug Test
December 2003 brought a surprising controversy for Man United’s Rio Ferdinand. The defender missed a scheduled drug test, claiming he was “out shopping.” Despite eventually passing the test, the FA imposed an eight-month ban and fined him £50,000.
The ban meant Ferdinand missed a crucial stretch of the season, including England’s Euro 2004 campaign, which many felt impacted the team’s chances significantly. The incident remains one of the more unusual reasons for a long suspension in Premier League history.
5. Eric Cantona – Nine Months
Kung-Fu Kicked A Crystal Palace Fan
This is one for the history books. In January 1995, Manchester United’s Eric Cantona stunned the football world with an infamous kung-fu kick directed at a Crystal Palace supporter.
The unexpected assault landed Cantona a hefty nine-month ban, alongside community service and a £30,000 fine. Despite the severity of the punishment, Cantona later described the incident as his “best moment” in a United shirt - true to his rebellious, larger-than-life persona.
4. Mark Bosnich – Nine Months
Tested Positive For Cocaine While At Chelsea
Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich’s career took a nosedive in 2002 after testing positive for cocaine. The nine-month ban led Chelsea to terminate his contract, and the scandal cast a long shadow over a once-promising career.
Despite attempting to appeal, Bosnich couldn’t overturn the punishment and ended up taking a five-year break from professional football before eventually returning to Australia. His story remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of substance abuse in sport.
3. Sandro Tonali – Ten Months
Breached FA Betting Rules
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali suffered a major blow when he was banned for ten months in the 2023/24 season for breaching FA betting regulations.
The Italian midfielder’s absence was keenly felt, as he missed both club fixtures and Italy’s Euro 2024 campaign. Additionally, he faced a suspended two-month sentence for another 50 breaches. Tonali’s suspension serves as a stark reminder of how seriously the FA takes gambling violations.
2. Abel Xavier – Twelve Months
Tested Positive For Anabolic Steroid Dianabol
Portuguese defender Abel Xavier made history as the first Premier League player banned for doping.
After testing positive for Dianabol, an anabolic steroid commonly used by bodybuilders, in 2005 while playing for Middlesbrough, Xavier received a 12-month suspension (later reduced from 18 months).
The ban marked a significant moment in English football’s fight against doping, and Xavier returned to play the following season, though the incident stained his career.
1. Joey Barton – Thirteen Months
Placed Bets On 1,260 Matches While At Burnley
The longest ban in Premier League history belongs to Joey Barton once again, but this time it wasn’t for on-pitch violence, it was for gambling. Between 2006 and 2016, Barton placed bets on 1,260 matches, flagrantly breaching FA betting rules.
Initially handed an 18-month ban, it was later reduced to 13 months. This suspension effectively ended Barton’s playing career as Burnley terminated his contract. His story is a dramatic chapter in the ongoing battle against betting in football.