8 dumbest red cards in Premier League history after Clark’s Newcastle blunder
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Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark joined an exclusive list with his sending off against Norwich City – Premier League players who have received the stupidest red cards.
Clark is no stranger to an early bath, having already been sent off three times for the Magpies in the top-flight prior to Tuesday night, but his latest indiscretion topped the lot.
The 32-year-old was given his marching orders just eight minutes into the crucial basement battle against the Canaries after hauling back Teemu Pukki when through on goal.
In a must-win game for Newcastle, the early blow was a killer, and while Callum Wilson's penalty put them ahead, Pukki's late volley stole a point and Norwich's one-man advantage eventually told.
Following Clark's impressively early red card, Daily Star Sport take a look back at eight of the Premier League's dumbest sendings off, starting with another Tyneside classic.
Kieran Dyer & Lee Bowyer (2005)
How could we start anywhere else?
With the Magpies already down to 10 men following Steven Taylor's dismissal, Newcastle boss Graeme Souness would have been fearing the worst during their clash with Aston Villa – but nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.
In a moment that Alan Shearer called ‘disgraceful’ and Souness described as indefensible, Bowyer charged at his team-mate with Dyer lashing out in response.
What do you think is the dumbest red card in Premier league history? Let us know in the comments section.
The incident stemmed from Bowyer believing that Dyer was refusing to pass him the ball – and ended with both men being sent off in front of a shocked St. James's Park crowd.
Needless to say, Newcastle didn't recover after that and eventually lost the game 3-0.
Robin van Persie – Arsenal (2008)
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Arsenal never quite got the hang of playing away to Stoke in the Premier League – as demonstrated by this ridiculous red card from 2008.
With the Gunners trailing 2-0, Robin van Persie was unable to contain his frustration as he thundered into home goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen while he was collecting the ball.
The Dutch striker was given his marching orders by referee Rob Styles as Arsene Wenger's side crashed to a familiar defeat in the Potteries.
Ricardo Fuller – Stoke City (2008)
2008 really was a vintage year for daft sendings off involving Stoke City. This time, however, it was a Potters player who received their marching orders.
The bizarre incident occurred in the 53rd minute of the game between Stoke and West Ham, immediately after Carlton Cole had held off Andy Griffin en route to scoring an equaliser for the home side.
Ricardo Fuller, who was poised to take the restart, then walked back to berate Griffin. Despite attempts from team-mates to keep the two men apart, they clashed and the Jamaican striker slapped his captain around the face.
Referee Michael Jones had words with Griffin before brandishing a red card towards Fuller, whose dismissal helped the Hammers claim an important 2-1 at Upton Park.
Youssouf Mulumbu – West Brom (2013)
This list is chock-full of ill-judged decisions that led to red cards, but Youssouf Mulumbu's against West Ham in 2013 might be the most hilarious.
With the game petering out in stoppage time, the West Brom midfielder was sent off for picking the ball up and hammering it at Gary O'Neill after being fouled by the Hammers star.
Adrian – West Ham (2015)
Goalkeepers these days all think they can play outfield. For some like Alisson and Ederson that may be so, but for former West Ham stopper Adrian, it's probably not the case.
After receiving a routine backpass during the club's trip to Southampton in 2015, Adrian decided to try and take on then-Saints star Sadio Mane with his fancy footwork.
Unfortunately for Adrian, his footwork wasn't all that fancy at all. Mane mugged him which led to the Spaniard committing handball outside the penalty area and receiving his marching orders.
Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea (2015)
Another avoidable yet hilarious sending off, the usually cool, calm and collected Cesc Fabregas completely lost his head in Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to West Brom in 2015.
With the west Londoners trailing 1-0 at the Hawthorns, Fabregas saw red and launched the ball at Chris Brunt's head as both sides were waiting for a free-kick to be taken.
Fabregas was sent off and Chelsea went on to lose the game 3-0.
Raheem Sterling – Man City (2017)
Getting caught up in the moment is all part of being a football fan. But when you're a footballer, such innocent celebrations can lead to trouble with the referee.
Just ask Raheem Sterling, who was sent off for jumping into the crowd and celebrating a 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth in 2017.
"We don't invite the fans? Maybe we play without fans?" Guardiola said to Sky Sports after the match, incensed at referee Mike Dean's decision.
- Premier League
- Newcastle United FC
- Arsenal FC
- Chelsea FC
- West Ham FC
- West Bromwich Albion FC
- Stoke City FC
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