The Premier League rules have changed ahead of Newcastle United’s trip to Crystal Palace.
If Bruno Guimaraes receives a yellow card during Newcastle United’s away game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, he will not be suspended.
The Brazilian was on the verge of an automatic two-match ban after receiving his ninth Premier League yellow card of the season in Newcastle’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on January 13.
Guimaraes, fully aware of his disciplinary position, has gone 11 games without being booked. Fortunately, the 26-year-old is no longer facing an instant suspension.
According to Premier League rules, a player who has received ten yellow cards either before or during their club’s 32nd league encounter is subject to a two-match suspension.
Newcastle’s recent 4-0 victory over Champions League-chasing Tottenham Hotspur was their 32nd match, hence the regulation no longer applies. The threshold has been raised to 15 bookings in 38 games, resulting in a three-match penalty.
Speaking recently about Guimaraes avoiding a ban, United manager Eddie Howe said: “A big relief, for him and for us,” Howe told NewcastleWorld. “We met a long time ago, and he promised me he wouldn’t get booked, and I honestly didn’t trust him!
“Because we had so many games to play and his style of play is what it is, I didn’t think he could control it when he needed to. But he has done an incredible thing for the club because he knows that if we lose him, we will be even more depleted. As you witnessed today, it is really essential to us.”
Behind Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon faced a two-match ban after receiving eight yellow cards.
Newcastle will play the final six games with the goal of qualifying for Europe for the second year in a row.
Howe’s men are currently sixth in the table by goal difference, ahead of Manchester United, who face relegation-threatened Sheffield United on the same night the Magpies visit Palace.
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