In football, yellow cards are one of the big disciplinary issues for the teams. Referees give a serious warning to the players by using the yellow cards. While the English Premier League is a highly competitive tournament, it is not easy for the teams to always maintain the disciplinary issues on the field.
Talking about the dangerous effects of the yellow cards, two yellow cards in a game for a player means the player’s removal from the game with an automatic red card. Meanwhile, a player’s uncontrollable yellow cards in a season can also cause problems for a team by the unavailability of that player in a crucial match.
Teams with the most yellow cards in a Premier League season
Team | Season | Total yellow cards |
Leeds United | 2021/22 | 97* |
Sunderland | 2014/15 | 94 |
Derby County | 1999/00 | 93 |
Everton | 1998/99 | 91 |
Arsenal | 2019/20 | 86 |
Middlesbrough | 2007/08 | 86 |
Chelsea | 1998/99 | 86 |
(Special Note: The 2021/22 PL season is still running)
Arsenal (2019/20), Middlesbrough (2007/08) and Chelsea (1998/99) – 86 cards
In the 2019/20 Premier League season, Arsenal were handed the yellow cards a total of 86 times. Previously, Middlesbrough (2007/08) and Chelsea (1998/99) also recorded 86 yellow cards in a PL season.
Eight Arsenal players received at least five yellow cards in that 2019/20 PL season. Midfielder Granit Xhaka led that list with 10 yellow cards, the joint third most yellow cards for a player in that competition.
On the other hand, eight Middlesbrough players and eight Chelsea players managed at least five yellow cards in the 2007/08 PL season and 1998/99 PL season respectively.
Everton (1998/99) – 91 cards
During the 1998/99 Premier League season, Everton became the first PL team to receive at least 90 yellow cards in a season as they finished that competition with 91 such disciplinary cards.
Everton midfielder Olivier Dacourt finished that PL season with 13 yellow cards, the second most yellow cards for a player in that competition. Moreover, seven more Everton players managed to receive at least five yellow cards in that PL season.
Derby County (1999/2000) – 93 cards
Derby County recorded a total of 93 yellow cards at the end of 1999/2000 Premier League season.
In that English first division competition, a total of eight Derby County players saw at least five yellow cards. While the midfielder Seth Johnson finished that tournament as the joint-most yellow cards holder with 13 cards, the defender Horacio Carbonari got 10 cards in that season.
Sunderland (2014/15) – 94 cards
In the 2014/15 Premier League season, Sunderland created a new record in this tournament history with 94 yellow cards.
A total of nine players of that Sunderland team received at least five yellow cards in that PL season. Among them, midfielders Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson were shown 14 and 10 yellow cards respectively in that competition. Unsurprisingly, Cattermole finished that PL season with the most yellow cards.
Leeds United (2021/22) – 97 cards
In the 2021/22 Premier League season, Leeds United have created a new record for most yellow cards in a PL season with already 97 yellow cards. While the season is still running, they can become the first team to receive 100 yellow cards in a PL season.
The left-back Junior Firpo has already received 10 yellow cards in this PL season as he is on the list of among five footballers with 10 yellow cards in this English first division season. A total of five players in this Leeds United have already got seven or more yellow cards in this tournament, while a total of ten players of this team have recorded at least five yellow cards in this competition.