Former Manchester United & Liverpool stars make list of longest bans in the history of football…
With the lengthy ban of former Liverpool star Luis Suarez set to finish at the end of the month, we decided to look at the longest bans ever handed out in football. The Barcelona star is no stranger to a ban, but he doesn’t even come close to topping this list…
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Here are the eight longest bans in modern footballing history…
8) Luis Suarez – 10 matches
Whether it was his cannibal like antics, his racist abuse, or his extraordinary goalscoring exploits, Luis Suarez was always in the headlines for something.
In 2013 he bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic on the arm, subsequently receiving a 10 match ban.
He still finished as the top scorer in the league with 31 goals and won the Player of the Year award.
7) Dave Prutton – 10 matches
The Southampton ace was furious at being sent off during a match against Arsenal in 2005, and in his attempts to grab the linesman he ended up pushing referee Alan Wiley.
He received a ten match ban as wel as a £6,000 fine.
6) Paolo Di Canio – 11 matches
The Italian hothead was always known for his temper, and it got the better of him on one occasion after he was shown red and asked to leave the field.
He reacted by pushing referee Paul Alcock to the floor, although comically it is Alcock who is most associated with the incident due to his hilarious fall.
5) Joey Barton – 12 matches
During a controversy filled final game of the Premier League season in 2012, Joey Barton realised that he wasn’t keen on the Manchester City players and would let them know about it.
He started by elbowing Carlos Tevez, and after being shown a red card for his behaviour he decided to knee Sergio Aguero and head-butt Vincent Kompany.
He got a 12 match ban and was promptly shipped out to France.
4) Luis Suarez – Four months (and nine international games)
The controversial striker was banned for a biting offence for the third time in his career after he bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.
The Uruguayan was given a nine match ban from international games and a four month ban from any footballing activities.
He still made a £75m switch to Barcelona in the summer.
3) Rio Ferdinand – Eight months
The former Manchester United defender was given an eight month ban and a £50,000 fine after he failed to turn up for a drugs test.
The ex-England man claimed he had merely forgotten about the test and had absent mindedly gone shopping instead; that excuse didn’t fly with the FA.
2) Mark Bosnich – Nine months
The Chelsea shot-stopper developed a $5,000 per week cocaine habit, and when he tested positively for the drug he was immediately sacked by the club as well as being banned for nine months. The incident had a terrible impact on him and forced him to retire.
1) Eric Cantona – Nine months
The Manchester United star was somewhat of a loose cannon, and his hot headedness got him into serious trouble when he attacked a Crystal Palace supporter during a match.
The Frenchman leaped into the crowd and karate kicked the fan, consequently receiving not only a nine match ban but a two week prison sentence (this was later reduced to 120 hours of community service) and a £20,000 fine.