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Football - Player Records
Longest Bans
This list features the players who have received the longest match ban in football history.
RANK | PLAYERS | CLUB | LENGTH OF BAN | REASON | YEARS |
1 | Olafur Gottskalksson | Torquay United | Lifetime | Refusing Anti-Doping Test | 1999 |
2 | Roberto Rojas | Chile | Lifetime (rescinded) | Feigning Injury | 1989 |
3 | Enoch West | Manchester United | 30 years | Betting Scandal | 1915–1945 |
4 | Juanito | Real Madrid | 5 years | Assaulting Opponent | 1987–1992 |
5 | Juanito | Real Madrid | 2 years | Assaulting Referee | 1978–1980 |
6 | David Bystron | Viktoria Plzen | 2 years | Failed Anti-Doping Test | 2011–2013 |
7 | Joey Barton | Burnley | 18 months | Betting Scandal | 2017–2018 |
8 | Paul Pogba | Juventus | 18 months | Failed Anti-Doping Test | 2023–2025 |
9 | Diego Maradona | Napoli | 15 months | Cocaine Scandal | 1991–1992 |
10 | Diego Maradona | Argentina | 15 months | Failed Anti-Doping Test | 1994–1995 |
11 | Sandro Tonali | Newcastle United | 10 months | Betting Scandal | 2025 |
12 | Eric Cantona | Manchester United | 9 months | Assaulting Fan | 1995 |
13 | Mark Bosnich | Chelsea | 9 months | Failed Anti-Doping Test | 2002 |
14 | Rio Ferdinand | Manchester United | 8 months | Missed Anti-Doping Test | 2003 |
15 | Ivan Toney | Brentford | 8 months | Betting Scandal | 2023 |
16 | Adrian Mutu | Chelsea | 7 months | Failed Anti-Doping Test | 2004 |
17 | Kolo Toure | Manchester City | 6 months | Failed Anti-Doping Test | 2017 |
18 | Luis Suarez | Liverpool | 4 months | Biting Opponent | 2013 |
19 | Paolo Di Canio | Sheffield Wednesday | 3 months | Assaulting Referee | 1998 |
20 | David Prutton | Southampton | 2 months | Assaulting Referee | 2005 |
References
