Chelsea still have two matches before the suspension threshold raises with four members of their squad at risk of being banned
12:30, 23 Dec 2025Updated 12:35, 23 Dec 2025
Moises Caicedo in action for Chelsea.
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Moises Caicedo is one of four Chelsea players at risk of a suspension.(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Four Chelsea players are at risk of suspension before a cut-off, which comes after the next two games.
In the first half of the season (19 games), players have to serve a one-match suspension if they are shown five yellow cards. It, however, increases to 10 yellow cards after the first 19 Premier League games of the campaign.
Players, therefore, have to get through two more games without reaching the threshold.
For Chelsea, there are four members of their squad in danger of reaching five yellow cards before the cut-off.
Estevao, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella are all currently on three yellow cards each. It means that if they are booked in both of the upcoming matches against Aston Villa (H) and AFC Bournemouth (A), they will serve a one-match suspension in the next Premier League clash, away at title contenders Man City on Sunday, 4 January (5.30pm).
If any of those players at risk don't get booked against Villa, then the only way that they would be suspended for the Man City match is if they are shown a red card against Bournemouth.
The game against Villa on Saturday will see head coach Enzo Maresca serve a touchline ban after he picked up his third yellow card of the season in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.
When asked why he was booked, Maresca said: "It's better if... I was complaining just because the same foul was a yellow card for us and they did exactly the same foul three times.
"Make a foul from behind and no yellow card. So I was just complaining why the same foul, one is yellow card and the other one is no yellow card. So this is the reason why I complained with the referee."
Enzo Maresca protests to the officials.
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to serve a touchline ban.(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.)
The touchline ban will be the second time, this season, Maresca will have been forced to watch from the stands. The Italian was shown a red card against Liverpool earlier this season. He subsequently was in the stands for the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Maresca's yellow card against Newcastle was one of seven shown to Chelsea players and staff during the contest, meaning that they will be faced with a £50,000 fine and a warning from the FA, with six or more yellows triggering an automatic fine.
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If the four players at risk of suspension are not shown two yellow cards over the next two games, then they must avoid reaching the 10-card limit that comes in after the clash against Bournemouth to avoid being suspended for a future match.
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