In the 2023-24 season, Chelsea set a Premier League record for the most yellow cards in a season. When Malo Gusto received a yellow card in the 78th minute of the final match against Bournemouth, the Blues' yellow card tally reached 105 (plus 4 red cards), surpassing Leeds' previous record of 101 cards in the 2021-22 season. The London team only had 2 matches without receiving a card (against Man United and Tottenham).
These worrying figures were recorded under Mauricio Pochettino but the situation does not seem to have improved under Enzo Maresca. Chelsea currently top the charts for yellow cards, with 21 in 6 games (an average of 3.5 per game). If this trend continues, the Stamford Bridge team could end the season with 133 cards. This statistic also puts them in 4th place in Europe's top leagues.
Chelsea's yellow card tally this season may have been boosted by the game against Bournemouth, when referee Anthony Taylor showed eight yellow cards to the Blues. The match produced a Premier League record of 14 yellow cards.
While some of the actions may have been unfair, there were also occasions when Taylor was forced to apply the law. Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho were booked for protesting against the referee, while Renato Veiga was booked for jumping into the stands to celebrate Christopher Nkunku’s late goal. Chelsea have had at least one player booked in every game since the start of the season.
“I don’t think it was a disciplinary issue. The Bournemouth game was a bit of a disciplinary issue. I don’t think it was a big issue. The next day, when I watched the Arsenal and Tottenham games, I think there were seven or eight yellow cards in the first half. So it was a similar ratio there.
Did I talk to the players about this? No! It was a normal match and some yellow cards could have been avoided by the referee. However, he decided differently" - Enzo Maresca shared.
Maresca's views are shared by many fans, who are not shy about expressing their frustration whenever Anthony Taylor referees a Chelsea game. However, the Blues have not reached such a high number of yellow cards because of a strict referee. They need to look at themselves.
As Maresca admits, in a fast, fierce and competitive sport, fouls are inevitable. Sometimes yellow cards are the result, but the Stamford Bridge team also made many unnecessary mistakes.
Remarkably, Chelsea have received 23 yellow cards for their reactions to referees, with five this season. They are not a particularly physical side. Maresca's side commit an average of 10.5 fouls per game. Only Brighton, Man City and Brentford have fewer.
Their average tackles per game are also just 16.7, ranking 16th in the Premier League. This shows that the London team receives more yellow cards than necessary compared to the way they play.
Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, two pillars of Chelsea's defense, received four yellow cards. According to Premier League rules, players will be suspended for one match if they receive five cards in their first 19 matches. They will be suspended for two matches if they receive 10 cards in 32 matches and three matches if they reach 15 cards before the end of the season.
Nicolas Jackson is a prime example of staying out of trouble by controlling himself. The striker was one of Chelsea's most prolific offenders last season, picking up nine yellow cards in his first 24 games. However, he has since gone 11 Premier League games (15 in all competitions) without further punishment, avoiding a two-match ban.
Enzo Maresca was modest when asked whether Chelsea could challenge for the title, saying there was room for improvement in both attack and defence. Perhaps reducing the number of yellow cards should also be on the list.
