Joelinton of Newcastle United is shown a yellow card by referee Urs Schnyder during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between R. Union Saint-Gilloise and Newcastle United FC at RSC Anderlecht Stadium on October 01, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)placeholder image
Joelinton of Newcastle United is shown a yellow card by referee Urs Schnyder during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between R. Union Saint-Gilloise and Newcastle United FC at RSC Anderlecht Stadium on October 01, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two Newcastle United players are already walking a disciplinary tightrope in the Champions League.
Joelinton and Burn were named in the starting XI as the Magpies beat Belgian champions Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 to kickstart their European campaign.
Nick Woltemade put United in front in the 17th minute before two Anthony Gordon penalties and a goal from substitute Harvey Barnes helped earn a first away win in Europe since 2013.
Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle United’s win over Union SG
Reacting to the win, head coach Eddie Howe said: “That was a big response from the players because that was a painful way to lose that game [vs Arsenal]. The players had to dig deep and look within themselves and come out fighting again, that's what we do best.
“I thought it was a really good display today, it's always going to be a tough game. But I think as soon as we got that first goal it settled us down and we played really well.
“I think any time you get a clean sheet in the Champions League away from home that's a good statement to make. I think just generally how we attacked, there was a feeling we could score at any moment in the game.
“Two of the goals were penalties but we scored four away from home, we couldn't have asked any more than that. There were some good individual performances as well, which is good to see.”
Newcastle United duo facing Champions League ban
Just two games into the Champions League group phase and Joelinton and Burn are at high risk of receiving a ban.
The pair were both yellow-carded in the opening defeat to Barcelona and were again in the referee’s book against Union SG, with Joelinton booked in the first half and Burn cautioned in the 88th minute.
Accumulating three yellow cards in the league phase results in a one-match suspension, meaning both players must avoid being booked in the remaining six matches against Benfica, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV, Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain.
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UEFA rules on yellow card suspensions explain: “From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).”
Suspensions in European competitions do not carry over into domestic matches and vice versa after Anthony Gordon played against Barcelona, despite serving a three-match ban in the Premier League.
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