Clubs with most yellow cards in Premier League history – Chelsea could eclipse record?

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Six current PL teams in top 10 

Many records have been broken during an incredible Premier League season, including the number of yellow cards handed out by referees. There’s been 1546 cautions handed out to players during the 2023/24 campaign, which is 142 more than the previous record.

There’s also been 56 red cards, which is a significant rise on the 30 from last season but it remains some way off the all-time record of 73 in 2002/03. With a record amount of yellow cards being brandished this season, it’s no surprise that six current top-flight teams feature amongst the top ten for most yellow cards in a season across Premier League history. Furthermore, two clubs could potentially eclipse the all-time record for most yellow cards on the final matchday. 

No club has received more yellow cards in Premier League history than Leeds United in 2021/22. The Yorkshire side amassed 100 yellow cards across 38 games in a season when they were renowned for their high-octane approach under Marcelo Bielsa initially and then Jesse Marsch after the iconic Argentinian was sacked in February. 

The two current Premier League sides that can realistically eclipse Leeds’ record are Chelsea and Wolves. Mauricio Pochettinho’s men currently sit on 99 yellow cards and they’d require two bookings against Brighton on the final day to move ahead of Leeds. Moisés Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson have been repeat offenders with both picking up ten yellows but Pochettinho rejected suggestions that Chelsea are ill-disciplined in December.  “It’s normal, Pochettinho said. “The players care, they want to win, they are frustrated. It’s not discipline. We need to have more capacity to read the situation of the game.When you are frustrated, and you don’t have the experience of other teams, you make a mistake.”

Wolves are also in contention to eclipse Leeds’ record but they’d require four bookings against Liverpool as they currently sit on 97 yellow cards. As the graphic above illustrates, Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Brighton all feature in the top ten for most bookings in Premier League history after receiving an abundance of yellow cards this season.