Using data compiled by dirtyplayers.co.uk, we reveal the top-flight footballers who have found themselves in the most hot water since 1992.
10. Kevin Davies
The former Southampton, Blackburn and Bolton target man often felt he was hard done by when it came to referees’ decisions, with Davies regularly penalised for flailing arms (or elbows, depending on your interpretation) when competing for aerial challenges. Despite his protestations, the one-time England international was booked 99 times and given his marching orders twice.
Total dirty points: 545
9. George Boateng
In 384 Premier League appearances for Coventry, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Hull, defensive midfielder Boateng had his name taken 85 times. He was also sent off on five occasions, although he did win an appeal after being unfairly shown a red card following a clash of heads with Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen in 2010.
Total dirty points: 550
8. Wayne Rooney
England fans will remember Rooney’s sendings-off against Portugal (for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho’s unmentionables) and Montenegro (for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic), but he’s also suffered disciplinary problems in the Premier League. Indeed, in 469 top-flight games for Everton and Manchester United, Rooney has been hit with 100 cards – 97 yellows and three reds.
Total dirty points: 560
7. Lee Cattermole
Having accumulated 565 dirty points in just 271 appearances, Cattermole possesses the worst point-to-game ratio in Premier League history. The Sunderland midfielder, who also played for Middlesbrough and Wigan in the top flight, is something of a throwback with his black boots and no-nonsense attitude, while some of his tackling – which has brought five red cards and 88 yellows – is rather old-school too.
Total dirty points: 565
6. Richard Dunne
You’ve got to feel sorry for Dunne, the Premier League’s record own-goalscorer who also features prominently in this list. The Irish centre-back played for Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa and QPR in the first division, collecting eight red cards – another record, albeit shared by two others – and 74 yellows.
Total dirty points: 570
5. Patrick Vieira
Vieira was the driving force behind Arsenal’s most successful period in the Premier League, starring in the title triumphs of 1998, 2002 and 2004. It wasn’t all pretty football, however: the Frenchman was sent off eight times – nobody has been given their marching orders more often – and picked up 76 cautions for the Gunners and Manchester City, with whom he spent the 2010/11 season.
Total dirty points: 580
4. Paul Scholes
An extremely gifted creator, the Manchester United man was never afraid to get involved with the dirty work – the only problem was that he was extremely bad at it. Many chuckled at Scholes’ persistent failure to time his tackles, a defect which earned him 97 yellows and four reds, but Arsene Wenger wasn’t quite so kind, arguing there was a “darker side” to the 11-time Premier League champion.
Total dirty points: 585
3. Scott Parker
Born and bred in London, Parker went on to play for no fewer than five of the capital’s clubs – Charlton, Chelsea, West Ham, Tottenham and Fulham – in the Premier League, while also enjoying a two-year spell at Newcastle between 2005 and 2007. The midfielder was sent off five times in his 368 outings, with his name featuring in the referee’s notebook on a further 92 occasions.
Total dirty points: 585
2. Lee Bowyer
Bowyer infamously had a scrap with Newcastle team-mate Kieron Dyer during a home defeat by Aston Villa in 2005, so it’s no surprise he ranks higher in this list than all but one Premier League player. The ex-Leeds, West Ham and Birmingham midfielder was sent off a further three times, while also collecting 99 bookings during his time in the Premier League.
Total dirty points: 595
1. Gareth Barry
No player has made more Premier League appearances than Barry; equally, no player has been quite as dirty as the current West Brom midfielder, who’s also represented Aston Villa, Manchester City and Everton at this level. Barry’s 119 cautions give him a 20-card lead on second-placed Lee Bowyer and Kevin Davies, while he’s also been sent off six times since 1998.
Total dirty points: 745