But where does the Uruguayan’s mega ban rank in the list of all-time Premier League suspensions?
SunSport dipped into the archives to find out.
10. Joey Barton — 6 matches
THE bad-boy of the modern English game effectively ended his Manchester City career by attacking team-mate Ousmane Dabo.
The Frenchman was left unconscious with head injuries that included a suspected detached retina, while Barton was banned for six months and given a four-month suspended prison sentence for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
9. David Batty — 6 matches
BATTY was another player to receive a ban for pushing a referee — just four months before Paolo Di Canio’s identical misdemeanour.
Playing for Newcastle at the time, Batty shoved David Elleray when he was shown a red card against Blackburn.
8. Luis Suarez — 8 matches
THE first of two appearances in this list, Suarez was slapped with an eight-match suspension for racially abusing Patrice Evra.
The Uruguayan was found guilty of using the word ‘negro’ five times in his exchange with the Manchester United defender.
7. Ben Thatcher — 8 matches
THE moment Thatcher will forever be remembered for is his sickening elbow on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes.
The Manchester City bruiser left Mendes unconscious and needing oxygen after his brutal elbow to the face.
Mendes remained in hospital overnight and Thatcher was banned for eight matches, with a further 15 games suspended.
6. David Prutton — 10 matches
THE Southampton midfielder did not react well to being shown a second yellow for a studs-up tackle on Arsenal’s Robert Pires.
Prutton attempted to reach the assistant referee but shoved Alan Wiley in the process and was banned for 10 games.
5. Luis Suarez —10 matches
THE controversial Liverpool ace earned the nickname ‘Chewy’ Suarez after sinking his teeth into Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
Officials failed to see the incident during the Prem clash at Anfield — but the Uruguayan felt the long arm of the law as the FA hit him with a mega retrospective suspension.
4. Paolo Di Canio — 11 matches
THE current Sunderland boss showed the volatile side of his character with an insolent push on ref Paul Alcock after being sent off.
The whistler’s comical tumble to the ground was mimicked in goal celebrations afterwards — but the FA failed to see the funny side by slapping the Italian with a lengthy ban.
3. Joey Barton — 12 matches
IN the list for a second time, Barton brought more shame on himself with this wild reaction in QPR’s final-day visit to Manchester City.
With the R’s needing a win on the final day of the season at the champions elect, brainless Barton lost it by elbowing Carlos Tevez, kicking Sergio Aguero and trying to headbutt Vincent Kompany before being given his marching orders.
2. Vinnie Jones — six months (suspended)
THE hardest man in football was forced to miss six months (suspended for three years) in 1992 for a voiceover on a video celebrating dangerous tackles.
Then Wimbledon chairman Sam Hammam branded Jones a ‘mosquito brain’ for taking part in the video, titled Soccer’s Hard Men, which provided advice for budding ‘hard men’.
1. Eric Cantona — nine months
KING ERIC threw away the best part of a season for a heinous kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace supporter.
Taking offence to a barrage of abuse from the fan in the Selhurst Park crowd, Manchester United ace Cantona shocked the world of football with his attack and paid big time.