Premier League's longest bans as Rodrigo Bentancur gets SEVEN games – from drugs to ref shoves

Tottenham Hotspur's has been issued a seven-game ban - but that's far from the longest ever seen in the .

The Uruguayan midfielder during an interview for local TV show 'Por La Camiseta,' in which the 27-year-old is claimed to have stated that South Korean people "all look the same," .

Despite taking to in the wake of this comment, which he dubbed "a very bad joke," the FA confirmed that Bentancur would be of their rules. The , but, Spurs are now without the midfielder for seven games, including a trip to and a clash with Chelsea.

However, Bentancur's seven-game suspension is nowhere near the longest ban imposed in the English top flight's history, as takes a look back at the longest disciplinary actions ever handed out.

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Paolo Di Canio

Back in 1998, during a matchup with , then-Sheffield Wednesday ace Paulo Di Canio landed himself in hot water after an altercation with a match official.

The Italian was shown a red card by referee Paul Alcock after a melee between both sides, and didn't take kindly to the sending off, pushing the official to the ground. This earned him an 11-game ban and a £10,000 fine.

Di Canio later expressed remorse, saying: "I want to say that I am very, very sorry for what happened. I had a fair hearing, and I am happy about that."

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez was slapped with multiple lengthy bans during his time in English football. His first came after an alleged racism incident involving Patrice Evra, which lead eight-game hiatus in 2011.

Another saw Suarez hit with a four-month ban from all football-related activities after he was caught biting Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup. This notorious act marked the third time Suarez had been accused of such behaviour in his career.

The Uruguayan had previously been suspended for seven games after allegedly biting PSV midfielder Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in 2010, and faced a 10-match punishment for a similar incident involving Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in 2013.

Kolo Toure

Former and Manchester City defender Kolo Toure faced a six-month suspension in 2011 when he admitted to taking a banned substance found in water tablets he got from his wife.

His legal team fought for a shorter three-month ban to allow him to play for City at the start of the 11/12 season, and eventually, Toure received a backdated ban, enabling him to join Roberto Mancini's squad for their opening match against Swansea.

The relieved Ivorian expressed his gratitude, saying: "I am relieved that I will be able to return to football in September and thank the FA's commission for their understanding."

Adrian Mutu

Once a promising striker at Stamford Bridge, Adrian Mutu saw his stint end in shame in 2004 after testing positive for cocaine, resulting in a seven-month ban and the premature termination of his time with the club.

Mutu chose not to have his B sample tested, instead fully admitting to the misconduct. His positive test sparked a protracted legal battle as Chelsea sought financial recompense for his actions.

The Romanian was later ordered to pay £15.2 million in damages to his former employers, the largest financial penalty in FIFA history, after unsuccessful appeals.

Rio Ferdinand

Ex- defender was handed an eight-month suspension and a £50,000 fine for missing a doping test in 2003.

Ferdinand was summoned for a routine drugs test in September 2003, shortly after Sir made him England's most expensive player.

An independent tribunal found the England player guilty of misconduct and imposed a ban on him. The suspension meant Ferdinand was ineligible for Euro 2004, and he couldn't help his side stop Arsenal's Invincibles.

Ivan Toney

The former Brentford man departed English football this summer for a big money move to Al-Ahli, leaving behind a somewhat stained legacy after he was issued with an eight-month ban for breaching the FA's gambling rules.

Toney was heading for a 15-month suspension before pleading guilty to the 232 breaches he was accused of, but the 28-year-old still missed out on some of the prime months of his career in 2023.

Despite a move to a Premier League giant being flaunted, there were little-to-no suitors on the back of the ban, and the ended up as Toney's destination.

Eric Cantona

Known for his controversial nature during his time in England, Eric Cantona served a nine-month suspension - the longest in league history - whilst at Manchester United after an infamous altercation with a fan.

Having been being sent off at Selhurst Park, Cantona was verbally abused by a fan as he left the pitch. In response, Cantona launched a 'kung-fu' kick at the bystander, earning him the mammoth ban.

This incident against Palace in 1995 remains a significant part of the Frenchman's legacy, along with his spectacular chip against a year later after he had returned.

Mark Bosnich

Another player who also faced a nine-month suspension, like Mutu, goalkeeper Mark Bosnich tested positive for cocaine while playing at Chelsea.

"Yes, I took drugs but only once my career was over. I have no regrets. I owe football absolutely nothing," Bosnich told The Guardian when he retired in 2004.

"I still maintain that at the time of my drugs test in November 2002 I was not taking cocaine... I got talking to a girl who later admitted that she had slipped the drug into her drink. I must have had a sip of her glass."

Sandro Tonali

Though this ban was heard in Italy, Newcastle's Sandro Tonali still missed a large chunk of English top-flight action when he was slapped with a 10-month suspension for betting offences in 2023.

The Italian Football Federation and FIFA could have seen the midfielder face a three-year suspension, but, as he co-operated, much like Toney, this ban was reduced.

The 24-year-old's agent said at the time that his client was "fighting against a gambling addiction," adding that he was "shocked, shaken and sad" at the scandal that rocked Italian football.

Abel Xavier

Middlesbrough's Abel Xavier was the first Premier League star to test positive for a performance-enhancing drug, when he was tested during a UEFA Cup clash in 2005.

His contract was terminated by Boro in the wake of the scandal, but, despite initially being banned for 18 months, this was later reduced to just 12.

"We are surprised by the verdict but cannot make any further comments before receiving the detailed reasoning of the decision," a UEFA spokesperson stated on the back of the original sentence being cut by six motnhs.

Joey Barton

Another player who fell foul to betting offences, Joey Barton's were a little more severe than some of those who came after him. Over 1,000 breaches from 2006 up until 2016 resulted in a hefty punishment.

Barton was banned for 18 months, and despite this being reduced to 13, it remains the longest in Premier League history, and pretty much brought an end to his playing career.

It is also worth noting that Barton received a 12-game ban by the FA in 12 for violent conduct during a brawl against Manchester City on the final day of the 2011/12 season.

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