Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth has made history in the Premier League, as it witnessed the highest number of yellow cards ever shown in a single game. Referee Anthony Taylor handed out a staggering 14 cautions, despite the match not being particularly heated. Eight Chelsea players received bookings, while six players from Bournemouth also saw yellow cards.
It is worth noting that this total does not include the yellow cards shown to both managers, Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola, for dissent. The previous record of 13 yellow cards had stood for almost a year before this game. It occurred during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield United on September 16, 2023, with referee Peter Bankes issuing those bookings.
After the match, Chelsea boss Maresca expressed no concerns about the high number of yellow cards shown. He stated to Sky Sports that he did not see it as a problem and accepted it as part of the game. Maresca did mention his complaint about a foul on Wesley Fofana that he believed was clear but acknowledged that these types of games often involve duels and fights which can lead to such incidents.
Maresca concluded by saying that sometimes the nature of the game demands certain behaviors from players. The match between Chelsea and Bournemouth will be remembered for its record-breaking display of cautionary measures by referee Anthony Taylor.
