Premier League star set for two-match ban if he’s booked but only one match if he’s sent off as ‘mad’ loophole revealed

BRUNO GUIMARAES must avoid a booking against top-four hopefuls Tottenham in order to dodge a two-match ban.

However, a crazy loophole means that if Guimaraes is given TWO yellows on Saturday, he’ll only serve a one-match ban.

EPA

Guimaraes must avoid a yellow in Newcastle’s game against Spurs[/caption]

Getty

He is currently on nine yellow cards[/caption]

Premier League rules stipulate that a two-match suspension will be accrued if a player picks up 10 yellow cards in the first 32 games.

Of course, the best bet is for the Brazilian to avoid caution altogether in Newcastle’s 32nd fixture of the season against Spurs.

Something the midfielder can clearly do.

Guimaraes picked up his ninth yellow card of the campaign during the 3-2 last-gasp defeat to Manchester City in mid-January.

But he has impressively gone ten games without a caution.

If Guimaraes is booked against Ange Postecoglou’s men then he will serve a two-match ban.

This means he will miss important games against Crystal Palace and Sheffield United, as Newcastle compete for a European place next season.

However, if he were to be sent off following two yellows, he would remain on nine and only serve a one-match suspension.

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Guimaraes’ team-mate Anthony Gordon benefitted from the loophole just weeks ago and avoided a two-match ban. 

The England international received his ninth and 10th yellows during Newcastle’s 4-3 comeback win over West Ham, which resulted in him being sent off in stoppage time.

However, because Gordon was shown a red card, he remained on eight bookings and served a one match ban for the visit of his former club Everton three days later.

It has, in many ways, proven to be a crazy let-out in Premier League rules – and Guimaraes could also benefit this weekend.

Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz picked up his 10th yellow card against Brentford, and is now suspended for Aston Villa’s next two matches.

After Spurs, the threshold increases to 15 yellow cards in 38 games, which results in a three-match suspension.

But no player in Premier League history has ever reached that number.