In the English Premier League, referees have handed out more red cards by the middle of the season than in the whole of last season combined.
A record number of penalties have been handed out in the English Premier League after the rules were tightened.
A total of 38 red cards have been handed out by the middle of the season, while only 30 of them were handed out in the entire 380 matches last season.
The record of 75 red cards during the season is divided into two instances in 2002–2003 and 2005–2006.
If we continue at the current pace, by the end of the 2023–24 season, there would be more than 80 red cards in total.
Balloliitto’s referee expert and Veikkausliiga referee Antti Munukka says the increased warnings are good for the game.
– Red cards given for tackles that endanger the opponent’s health will certainly be received with joy. The innovations make the sport more entertaining.
Munukka says that the Premier League started the season on the same line as UEFA and other top leagues. Concern about the behavior of players and coaches towards referees has grown.
– I believe that increased warnings about protesting and wasting time are a good thing.
Yellow cards have also been given at a furious pace. Last season’s total number was 1,353, while 810 have already been issued by the middle of this season.
What in the background?
The increased number of penalties has partly resulted from the fact that it may have been easier to get a yellow card this season. In the first 140 matches of the season, a total of 107 cards were given to players for playing time. That’s 22 cards more than all of last season.
Munukka says that the Premier League has previously had a softer line when it comes to handing out penalties compared to UEFA matches.
– The Premier League has now also started to protect the image of the game. It has been wanted to bring it closer to Uefa and protect the players. The teams that play not only the Premier League but also European games may have noticed that there are big differences in refereeing between the series. In the Premier League you have previously been able to get away without a penalty and in the UEFA game you have received a penalty for the same situation.
Playing time in the Premier League has also increased as extra time has stretched. In several matches, the referee has given another ten minutes of extra time in addition to the actual playing time. It has meant that players have more time to commit card-worthy offences.
– The increased additional time is without a doubt a good thing. If the ball was in play more, then there wouldn’t be so much extra time either. Also, the faster VAR works, the less additional time is needed.
VAR checks
A few seasons ago, the international football association Fifa introduced video assistant referee (VAR) to support the referees’ decision-making process.
Starting this season, VAR has taken a tighter grip on possible red cards, and several cards have been handed out after VAR inspections. The decisions it makes have occasionally caused anger in both players and spectators.
– VAR has brought about the fact that the players have to watch out for those extra goofballs on the field. The faster VAR works, the less additional time is needed, Munukka points out.
Liverpool and Tottenham have four red cards acquired this season and are thus at the top of the statistics. On the other hand, Sheffield has collected the most yellow cards, with 58. The teams have an average of 19 matches behind them.
About Premier League referees the most cards this season has been shared by the 45-year-old Anthony Taylor. The English referee has awarded 72 yellow cards and two red cards during the season. Taylor, who has whistled Premier League matches since 2010, has been among the referees who award the most penalties per season throughout his career.
39 years old Tim Robinson on the other hand, is the only one of the referees who have played at least more than 10 matches, who has not given a single red card this season.
A red card can be given for a serious foul or another yellow card. Receiving two yellow cards means an immediate one-game ban in the Premier League. A straight red card, on the other hand, results in a three-game suspension, which can also be increased or decreased in certain situations involving violent behavior.