Several Premier League players who were close to one-match ban after accumulating four yellow cards will be relieved to find themselves on much safer ground when they take to the pitch on Saturday.
Until this point in the season, players received a one-match ban for picking up five yellow cards in their side’s first 19 Premier League matches.
But after 19 games, starting on 3 January, the ban moves to 10 yellow cards – albeit with a harsher punishment. Players who accumulate 10 yellow cards prior to the conclusion of the 32nd game receive a two-match instead of one-match suspension.
Total yellow cards received before 3 January will carry over into the next phase of games, but players on four yellow cards are no longer one card away from suspension until they reach nine yellow cards.
Should any players receive 15 yellow cards in a season, they will acquire a three-match suspension.
