From betting breaches to match-fixing scandals and failed drugs tests – this badly-behaved bunch have gone down in football folklore for the wrong reasons
Paul Pogba of Juventus
It’s not looking good for Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba could be joining unwanted company in football’s longest-ever banned players after testing positive for testosterone.
The former Manchester United star, 30, returned a positive test after Juventus’ opening Serie A fixture of the season away at Udinese last month. He’s been provisionally suspended from playing for the Old Lady and France while an investigation gets underway.
A Juve statement read: “Juventus Football Club announces that today the player Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the adverse outcome of the analyses carried out on 20 August 2023. The company reserves the right to evaluate the next procedural steps.”
Pogba could be banned for up to four years for his alleged doping, if found guilty. That would put him in with the following 19 players past and present who have found themselves suspended for a lengthy spell – and some forever.
Vinnie Jones
Perhaps the hardest man to ever grace a football pitch, Vinnie Jones earned himself six months on the sidelines after hosting a film called Soccer’s Hard Men in 1992, which saw him advise fellow footballers on how to increase their fear factor. The FA initially gave the former Chelsea and Wimbledon midfielder a suspended sentence of six months, but it was enforced after he missed a hearing.1 of 19
Manchester City’s Ivorian defender Kolo Toure
Manchester City were without centre-back Kolo Toure for their 2011 FA Cup final triumph against Stoke after traces of a banned substance were found in his blood – which he claimed were his wife’s water tablets he took to lose weight. That didn’t wash with the FA, who flushed him out of the game for half a year.2 of 19
Joss Labadie of Walsall
You’d think journeyman midfielder Joss Labadie would’ve learnt his lesson after getting a 10-match ban and a £2,000 fine for biting an opponent while a Torquay United player in 2014. Well, he didn’t. A second offence, this time chomping down on the finger of Stevenage defender Ronnie Henry during his Dagenham & Redbridge stay, saw the heavy hand of the law come down on him much harder. 3 of 19
Julio Cruz of Inter Milan trys to kick David Navarro of Valencia as the game gets out of control at the final whistle of the UEFA Champions League last of sixteen, second leg match between Valencia and Inter Milan on March 6, 2007
UEFA were far from impressed when Valencia’s David Navarro (left) broke the nose of Inter Milan’s Nicolas Burdiss before chasing him into the dressing room as all hell broke loose during their 2007 Champions League tie. He was initially banned for seven months before getting it slightly reduced.4 of 19
Teammates try to calm down Marseille’s defender Patrice Evra (back L) as he tries to kick a supporter before the start of the UEFA Europa League group I football match Vitoria SC vs Marseille at the D. Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes on November 2, 2017
Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has never been fully with it – you just have to watch his social media videos to see that. But trying to kick one of your own fans in the head is very different to his usual harmless fun. He did just that in November 2017 when a Marseille supporter had allegedly verbally abused him before a Europa League game. The Ligue 1 club terminated his contract after he was banned from European club football for seven months by UEFA.5 of 19
Adrian Mutu of Chelsea
Retired Romanian forward Adrian Mutu was banned not once, but twice for drug use. The first came during his time at Chelsea in 2004. A positive test for cocaine saw him slapped with a seven-month ban by the FA. The Blues, meanwhile, swiftly waved him goodbye and sought compensation in a court battle which raged on for years. That didn’t stop Mutu repeating his crime as a Fiorentina player in 2010. Serie A chiefs threatened him with a year out of the game, but it was ultimately reduced to half that.6 of 19
Ivan Toney of Brentford reacts
Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney was headed for a 15 month ban before pleading guilty to 232 breaches of the FA’s gambling rules. He’s been out of action since May and won’t return to the Premier League until January, but he will be back in training from next week.7 of 19
By Daily Star