Premier League rules will ban £40m Newcastle United star if this happens at West Ham – would miss a month

Newcastle United’s Joelinton is walking a disciplinary tightrope as he approaches the upcoming Premier League clash against West Ham. If the Brazilian midfielder receives a yellow card in this match, he will face a two-game suspension, ruling him out of league fixtures until Newcastle’s encounter with Manchester United on April 13.

This scenario would not be unfamiliar for Joelinton, who served a similar ban during the 2022-23 season after accumulating 10 yellow cards. His aggressive and competitive style of play, while invaluable to the team, often places him at risk of disciplinary action.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has expressed concern over the potential suspension, especially given Joelinton’s recent return from injury. Speaking to The Gazette, Howe acknowledged the midfielder’s fiery nature but emphasized his importance to the squad.

“Joelinton is a very competitive player. He’s always on the line in terms of that side of his game, but you need players like that in your team,” Howe said. “We’d be desperately disappointed to lose him for two games after just getting him back from injury. Hopefully, he can control himself like he did the last time he was close to a ban. He went several games without a booking then, so fingers crossed he can do the same again.”

Premier League rules stipulate that any player who receives 10 yellow cards within the first 32 matches of the season must serve a two-match ban. Joelinton is currently on nine bookings, putting him one caution away from suspension.

While no other Newcastle players are in immediate danger of reaching the 10-card threshold, several are edging closer. Dan Burn, currently sidelined with an injury, has seven yellow cards to his name, while Sandro Tonali and Fabian Schar each have five.

Bruno Guimarães has been booked four times, and Lewis Hall and Jacob Murphy have three cautions each.

Anthony Gordon, who is already serving a three-match suspension following his red card against Brighton, has only been booked twice in the league this season. Similarly, Sean Longstaff, Nick Pope, and Joe Willock have each received two yellow cards.

Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier, and Callum Wilson have been cautioned just once, leaving them well clear of any suspension concerns.

The Premier League’s disciplinary rules also state that any player who accumulates 15 yellow cards over the course of the season will face a three-match ban. However, no player in the league’s history has ever reached this mark, highlighting the rarity of such a scenario.

For Joelinton, the immediate focus is on avoiding his 10th booking, which would see him miss crucial league games at a pivotal stage of the season.

One key distinction in the rules is that yellow card suspensions are competition-specific. While red card bans, like Gordon’s, carry over across all domestic competitions, yellow card suspensions do not.

This means that if Joelinton were to receive a two-game ban for reaching 10 bookings, it would only apply to Premier League matches. He would still be eligible to feature in the Carabao Cup final, providing a silver lining for Newcastle should the suspension come into effect.

The potential absence of Joelinton would be a significant blow for Newcastle, as his physical presence and tenacity in midfield have been instrumental to the team’s success under Howe.

His ability to break up play, drive forward, and contribute both defensively and offensively makes him a key figure in the squad. Losing him for two league games could disrupt Newcastle’s rhythm as they push for a strong finish to the season.

As the Magpies prepare for their trip to West Ham, Howe will likely remind Joelinton of the importance of maintaining discipline while still playing his natural game. The Brazilian’s competitive edge is a double-edged sword, but it is also what makes him such a valuable asset.

If he can navigate the next match without a booking, Newcastle will breathe a sigh of relief, knowing they can rely on him for the crucial fixtures ahead. However, if he does pick up a yellow card, the team will need to adapt quickly to cope with his absence and keep their season on track.