chelsea fc
Chelsea’s defeat at Sunderland on the final day meant that they finished the Premier League season tenth, an outcome that means they have missed out on European football altogether next time.
However, there was one table where they finished clear of all their rivals, and that was in the number of red cards collected.
Wesley Fofana was the latest recipient, receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, making that the eighth Premier League red card Chelsea received in the 2025 – 2026 season.
That was four more than the next teams on the list, Everton and Tottenham, whilst West Ham and Manchester United were among a clutch of teams to receive three.
But, at the other end of the scale champions Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton did not see a single player sent off this campaign.
And, when it comes to yellow cards, only Tottenham received more than Chelsea’s 90 in the campaign. Arsenal had the fewest.
New manager Xabi Alonso will have a lot of issues to deal with in his in-box when he arrives at Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, but improving the club’s disciplinary record has to be one of them.
Managing to keep eleven men on the pitch is usually a prerequisite for winning football matches.