Navigating the rules and regulations of a Premier League season is a complex task for any football club, and sometimes, the timing of a suspension can feel particularly cruel.
For Newcastle United, this is the reality they face as they prepare for their away match against AFC Bournemouth. They will be forced to take on a confident opponent without the services of winger Anthony Gordon, who is serving the final match of a three-game domestic suspension.
This situation highlights a unique aspect of football’s disciplinary system. The red card Gordon received in the Premier League match against Liverpool only applies to domestic competitions, which is why he was perfectly eligible to play, and even score, in the midweek UEFA Champions League match against Barcelona.
However, his ban remains in effect for league games, meaning he will watch the Bournemouth match from the sidelines.
His return will be a welcome boost for the following fixtures, including the Carabao Cup tie against Bradford City and the huge Premier League clash with Arsenal.
Gordon’s absence is compounded by other unavailable players, turning a single suspension into a wider selection headache for manager Eddie Howe.
Defender Fabian Schar will also miss the match, though for a very different and more concerning reason. He is ruled out due to the Premier League’s strict concussion protocols after suffering a head injury against Barcelona.
This, along with the continued absences of long-term injured signings Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey, means the manager is dealing with a significantly weakened squad.
To make matters even more challenging, vice-captain Kieran Trippier is also a major doubt after being substituted with an injury in the same match.
Looking beyond the immediate absence of Gordon, the club will be cautiously monitoring the disciplinary records of several other key players.
In the opening four matches of the season, no Newcastle player is in immediate danger of a suspension, but a few are already building a tally.
Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has collected two yellow cards, while Dan Burn, Joelinton, and goalkeeper Nick Pope have each received one.
The Premier League operates a tiered suspension system based on yellow card accumulations. The first threshold is five bookings within the first 19 matches of the season, which results in a one-match ban.
This means Guimaraes will need to avoid picking up three more yellow cards in his next 15 league games. The other players with a booking will need to be even more careful to avoid reaching that total.
This is a particular point of focus for a player like Joelinton, who has a history of disciplinary issues. Over the past three seasons, he has missed four matches due to yellow card suspensions, more than any other player in the squad.
The club will be hoping he can channel his aggressive style into his play while avoiding unnecessary cautions.
It is important to understand that these yellow card suspensions are competition-specific. A player banned for accumulating five bookings in the Premier League only misses a Premier League game.
However, a red card suspension works differently; it applies across all domestic competitions, which is why a sending-off in an FA Cup match can cause a player to miss subsequent Premier League and League Cup games.
For now, Newcastle’s focus is on getting through the Bournemouth match with the players they have available.
The hope is that the team can secure a positive result and then welcome back key figures for the crucial run of games that follows, all while ensuring their most important players stay on the right side of the referee’s notebook.
