Eric Cantona to Joey Barton – the Premier League’s longest bans

Ivan Toney has been handed an eight-month ban after admitting breaching Football Association betting rules.

Published May 17, 2023

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended from football for eight months.

The England international’s punishment, which will see him banned until January, comes after he admitted 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules.

Here, the PA news agency looks at other Premier League players who have been handed lengthy bans.

Joey Barton – 13 months

Joey Barton in action for Burnley (Martin Rickett/PA) — Barton in action for Burnley (Martin Rickett/PA)

Soon after, with the midfielder having been released by the Clarets, that was reduced on appeal to 13 months.

Abel Xavier – 12 months

Abel Xavier (left) in action for Middlesbrough against Xanthi (Owen Humphreys/PA) — Abel Xavier (left) failed a drugs test after a Middlesbrough UEFA Cup match in 2005 (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The suspension was cut to a year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the summer of 2006 and Xavier resumed playing for Boro the following season.

Mark Bosnich – nine months

Mark Bosnich during a Chelsea training session (Tom Hevezi/PA)

The former Australia goalkeeper was fired by Chelsea and lost his appeal against the ban.

Eric Cantona – eight months

Eric Cantona attacked a Crystal Palace fan in 1995 and was banned for eight matches (PA Archive/PA)

The Frenchman admitted a criminal charge of assault, for which he was sentenced to community service, while also receiving a £30,000 fine and an eight-month ban by the FA.

Rio Ferdinand – eight months

Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand speaking at a press conference, at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, after being banned for eight months, for missing a drugs test (Phil Noble/PA) — Rio Ferdinand was banned for eight months for missing a drugs test (Phil Noble/PA)

With an appeal failing, the suspension saw the centre-back sit out the remainder of Manchester United’s season and England’s Euro 2004 campaign.