Bans are looming for Premier League players who have trodden the wrong side of the laws of the game too often this season. If a Leeds United player or any other in the top flight picks up 10 yellows before their club’s 32nd match they will be banned for two games.
Junior Firpo fell foul of the first cumulative ban of the campaign. The left-back collected five cautions before the 19th match and was forced to sit out the loss to Arsenal at Elland Road.
Had Firpo not injured his medial cruciate ligament in the Aston Villa loss, his collection of nine yellows would put him at risk of yet another ban. As it is, he will be on the sidelines as the deadline passes at the conclusion of the Watford trip next month.
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Rodrigo is onto eight yellow cards and if he picks up another one in each of the Southampton and Watford games then he would be forced to miss the Crystal Palace and Manchester City games. Leeds may have their Spanish playmaker working the tightrope, but they could yet benefit if one of their upcoming opponents slips up.
Conor Gallagher, the 2021 summer target who has excelled at Palace, is also on eight cautions right now. The Eagles have three matches to play between now and United’s visit to Selhurst Park.
If Gallagher picks up two more yellows before full-time in the third, he will be suspended when Leeds arrive. Losing their England international can only be a good thing for Leeds.
