Which players have been sent off in their first game after suspension?

“Has a player ever been sent off, then sent off again in their first match back after suspension? Assuming this has happened many times, has a player ever seen red in three consecutivegames for which they were eligible? What’s the record?” asks James McWilliam Woods.

Until 2004, suspensions in English football did not begin until 14 days after the relevant offence took place. That led to a couple of famous examples of players being sent off a second time before they had begun the suspension for their first red card.

In the space of four days in March 1994, Manchester United’s Eric Cantona was sent off at Swindon (for stamping on John Moncur) and Arsenal (for two yellow cards, the second absurdly harsh – though the first would be a straight red these days). He played the next two matches, too, before his suspension kicked in, but was on his best behaviour. United’s season almost collapsed in Cantona’s absence, but when he returned, he inspired them to their first ever Double.

Six years later, at the start of the 2000-01 season, Patrick Vieira was sent off in the opening two matches – Sunderland away on Saturday (for clouting Darren Williams after being fouled), then Liverpool at home on Monday (for two yellow cards in four minutes, the second absurdly harsh).

Five days later, Vieira – who like Cantona had been expected to quit English football in a huff – felt the love of Highbury and scored twice in a 5-3 win over Charlton. After the first goal he took his shirt off and should technically have been booked, referees not always the best at reading the room, but on this occasion Stephen Lodge let Vieira off. Miserably, the FA then charged Lodge with a “technical irregularity” and he didn’t referee another game for three