Newcastle United ace faces potential Champions League ban under UEFA laws following Union SG incident – but there’s a catch

Newcastle stars walking Champions League suspension tightrope after Union SG win
Newcastle United may have cruised to a 4-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels on Wednesday night, but the win did not come without a setback.
Goals from Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes, along with a pair of Anthony Gordon penalties, secured Eddie Howe’s first three points of the group stage.

However, midfielder Joelinton’s yellow card was the only blemish on an otherwise dominant display at Lotto Park.

The Brazilian was booked in the first half for a foul on Anan Khalaili, adding to the caution he received in Newcastle’s opening 2-1 defeat to Barcelona. That means Joelinton now sits on two yellow cards from his first two Champions League outings, leaving him just one booking away from a suspension.

UEFA regulations state that a player is automatically banned for one match after receiving three cautions during the league phase, and again after every subsequent odd-numbered booking (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.). With six group matches still to play, Joelinton is on thin ice.

Dan Burn is also at risk after being cautioned in the Barcelona clash, though he will need two more bookings before serving a ban.

Meanwhile, UEFA’s stance on red cards is stricter: a dismissal results in an automatic one-match suspension, with the disciplinary body able to extend the punishment for serious offences.

Importantly, suspensions in UEFA competitions do not impact domestic football, and vice versa. For example, Anthony Gordon was eligible to face Barcelona despite serving a Premier League ban.

Newcastle’s upcoming fixtures will further test their discipline.

They host Benfica at St James’ Park later this month, before welcoming Athletic Club. Trips to Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen follow in the new year, ahead of a home tie with PSV Eindhoven and a group-stage finale away to Paris Saint-Germain.

With Joelinton’s combative style and reputation for bookings, it seems only a matter of time before the midfielder is forced to sit out a Champions League match.