Three Wolves players are at risk of facing a one-match suspension due to a rule imposed by the Premier League.
Wolves have made a disastrous start to the season, collecting just one point from their opening seven matches – a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
Supporters have called for Fosun to step down at Molineux while increasing pressure is being placed on manager Gary O’Neil.
The Wolves boss has won just one of his previous 17 Premier League matches, and while that is more than enough to warrant a sacking, the Old Gold are placing their faith in O’Neil to turn the situation around.
In their six defeats this term, the Wanderers have shown ill-discipline having collected the third most yellow cards in the league (22), behind only Chelsea (27) and Manchester United (24).
The Wolves players at risk of being suspended due to the yellow card rule
In England’s top flight, players who collect five yellow cards receive an automatic one-match suspension.
This only applies to league games, meaning that should a Carabao Cup or FA Cup fixture fall between a league game, the player in question would be able to play.
Currently, 11 Wolves players have received a card this season but there are several who are walking the suspension tightrope.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, Nelson Semedo and Joao Gomes have all received three yellow cards each while new signings Andre and Carlos Forbs are on two along with Toti Gomes, Mario Lemina and the injured Yerson Mosquera.
The three Wanderers stars, Ait-Nouri, Semedo and Gomes are therefore most at risk of receiving a one-match suspension while picking up 10 yellow cards would result in a two-match ban.
O’Neil will be praying that none of his players receive a suspension, as his squad is light on numbers as it is.
When does the Premier League’s yellow card rule reset?
For the Wolves stars walking the suspension tightrope, the yellow card rule resets after the first 19 games of the season.
It means the O’Neil’s men can afford to be booked four times before that cut-off point to avoid suspension.
Given we’re only seven matches into the season and multiple Wolves players are on three yellow cards, it seems unlikely that none of them will avoid picking up five yellows, especially with what’s at stake at the bottom.
Should one of O’Neil’s men pick up 10 yellow cards before the 33rd matchday of the season, they will be punished with a two-match suspension.
Wolves fans will be hoping that’s a scenario that doesn’t play out, as they need all of their best players on the pitch to avoid relegation.