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Kung-fu kicks and tumbling officials: Some of the longest Premier League bans
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Adam Drury
LiveScore
Eric Cantona was banned for eight months after kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan in January 1995
Eric Cantona was banned for eight months after kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan in January 1995

Ivan Toney will be out of action until January 2024 after landing an eight-month ban from the FA on Wednesday.

We remember some of the controversial incidents that have seen other Premier League players handed lengthy suspensions.

Joey Barton (13 months)

Joey Barton was no stranger to disciplinary committees, receiving numerous bans from the FA as well as being suspended by three different clubs.

Barton was excluded by Manchester City after a training ground fight with Ousmane Dabo that also landed him a six-game rap from the FA — as well as a four-month suspended prison sentence.

He was then forced to sit out for 12 matches for behaviour that, in the FA's words, "tarnishes the image of football" after being sent off for QPR against City in 2012.

That incident saw him sent off for appearing to strike Carlos Tevez, before kicking Sergio Aguero and attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany in an extraordinary sequence of events.

The midfielder was also sent home by Newcastle and Rangers after dressing room bust-ups but it was a 13-month ban for a breach of betting rules that brought his controversial playing career to an end in 2017.

Joey Barton never played again after being banned for 13 months in 2017
Joey Barton never played again after being banned for 13 months in 2017

Abel Xavier (12 months)

Abel Xavier became the first Premier League player to test positive for a performance-enhancing substance in 2005, initially receiving an 18-month ban and having his Middlesbrough contract ripped up.

The Portuguese defender was adamant that he had taken the supplement — anabolic steroid Dianabol — to combat a virus and it was eventually established that he had not deliberately broken any rules.

Xavier still had to serve a 12-month ban, meaning he missed out on the 2006 UEFA Cup final, but was offered a new one-year deal by the Teessiders and said he will "never forget" the club's support during his hiatus.

Mark Bosnich (nine months)

Mark Bosnich had his Chelsea contract ripped up after receiving a nine-month ban
Mark Bosnich had his Chelsea contract ripped up after receiving a nine-month ban

Mark Bosnich received a nine-month ban after testing positive for cocaine in September 2002, leaving his career in tatters as Chelsea terminated his contract.

The goalkeeper had shown great potential during a seven-year stint at Aston Villa between 1992-99, convincing Manchester United to sign him as Peter Schmeichel's replacement in the summer after their famous Treble victory.

But the Australian fell out of favour after one season as United's No1 stopper and it was not long after his move to Chelsea that he received the punishment that would effectively end his playing days at the top level.

Eric Cantona (eight months)

One of the most infamous bans in football history, Eric Cantona will always be remembered as much for the eight months of Premier League action he missed as for the five seasons during which he lit it up.

After being sent off for kicking Crystal Palace defender Richard Shaw at Selhurst Park in January 1995, the Frenchman received a deluge of abuse from Eagles fan Matthew Simmons and retaliated with a kung-fu-style kick followed by a series of punches.

A lengthy suspension resulted but Manchester United stuck by their man — a decision they would not regret as he returned to deliver the Premier League titles in both of the following seasons.

Paolo Di Canio (11 matches)

Paolo Di Canio sent referee Paul Alcock flying at Hillsborough in September 1998
Paolo Di Canio sent referee Paul Alcock flying at Hillsborough in September 1998

Aleksandar Mitrovic was recently banned for eight games after pushing referee Chris Kavanagh.

Years earlier, Paolo Di Canio sent official Paul Alcock flying to the Hillsborough turf during a game between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal in September 1998.

An innocuous flashpoint turned into something more severe just before half-time when Di Canio, after little provocation, kicked Gunner Martin Keown before grabbing his opponent's face.

The Italian was not done there, reacting to his inevitable red card by pushing Alcock square in the chest with enough force to send him tumbling over. He was banned for 11 matches.

Tags

Premier LeagueManchester UnitedIvan ToneyBrentfordManchester CityChelseaWest Ham UnitedCrystal Palace
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