Newcastle United’s £53 Million Dilemma: The Premier League Ban Threat Looms Over Joelinton and Dan Burn
As Newcastle United prepares to face Arsenal at St James’ Park, the stakes are higher than ever. The team is desperate to end a frustrating streak of five league matches without a win, and the pressure mounts even further for two key players: Joelinton and Dan Burn. Both are currently teetering on the edge of a potential one-match suspension, with only one booking standing between them and a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
In the opening nine league matches of the season, both Burn and Joelinton have each accumulated four yellow cards. This troubling statistic means that any additional caution shown in their upcoming match could lead to dire consequences. Dan Burn, who recently received his fourth yellow card during a narrow 1-0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion—his former club—faces the looming threat of missing crucial fixtures. Meanwhile, Joelinton, having escaped a booking in his last two appearances since receiving his fourth yellow against Manchester City in September, knows he must tread carefully.
To avoid a suspension, both players must navigate the treacherous waters of the league without another yellow card until matchday 20. According to Premier League regulations, players who receive five bookings within the first 19 league matches will automatically face a one-match ban. This puts both Burn and Joelinton under immense pressure to maintain discipline as the matches pile up.
Historically, avoiding a ban is no small feat, particularly considering the current frequency of yellow cards. Their situation is precarious, especially when one considers their existing record. In the previous season, Bruno Guimaraes, their teammate, showcased remarkable restraint by going 11 matches without receiving a single booking, successfully evading a two-match suspension. For Burn and Joelinton to stay in the game, they will need to replicate this remarkable feat, needing to go an additional ten matches without a caution before Newcastle’s 20th match against Tottenham Hotspur on January 4, 2025.
The implications of a yellow card against Arsenal are serious; should either player be cautioned, they would miss the subsequent match against Nottingham Forest, further complicating Newcastle’s already challenging season. Moreover, the caution risk extends beyond just Burn and Joelinton. Teammates Lewis Hall and Fabian Schar also find themselves in a precarious position, with three yellow cards each this season, meaning they too must navigate their next ten matches with extreme caution to avoid a suspension. Meanwhile, players like Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, and Sandro Tonali, who have each been booked twice, are not far from the danger zone either. Even Jacob Murphy and Lloyd Kelly, both carrying one yellow card, must remain vigilant.
Reflecting on the previous season, Joelinton’s record serves as a cautionary tale. He endured a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings and a two-match ban after reaching ten yellow cards. This season, he faces the same risks, needing to manage his aggression and discipline to prevent a repeat of past errors.
Once the team surpasses the 19-match threshold, the rules shift significantly. The criteria for suspension changes, with players facing bans after ten bookings, and the stakes escalate even further when considering the potential for a three-match ban for those who receive fifteen cautions in a single season. However, historically, this level of caution is rare; no player has ever reached such a daunting tally in a single Premier League campaign.
As Newcastle prepares for the high-stakes match against Arsenal, the tension surrounding Joelinton and Dan Burn’s disciplinary status creates an added layer of drama. With their season hanging in the balance, the two players must exhibit both skill and discipline to help steer Newcastle back to winning ways while avoiding the shadow of suspension. The next few matches will be critical—not only for the club’s aspirations but also for the players’ futures in the league this season.