Longest streak without a red card? Premier League record held by Burnley

Sean Dyche’s charges are often described as the Premier League’s most unpleasant team, with very harsh tackles and tough play. However, if you think they also regularly pick up red cards, you are mistaken.

It was January 2, 2019, when Burnley won 2-1 at Huddersfield. For the visitors then, midfielder Robbie Brady was sent off at the very end. On the face of it, nothing special, but the Clarets have not received another red card since.

Specifically, it’s been 114 games in a row, an absolute Premier League record, no one else has even got over 100. The closest was Ipswich Town, who held a streak of 94 games between 1992 and 1994.

Sean Dyche himself doesn’t deny the unpleasant style of play, but he doesn’t encourage his players to foul: “I want my players to win, to play hard and unpleasant but within the rules. That’s what we try to practice – hard but fair play.”

And the Clarets have been relatively successful in doing just that, as evidenced by a streak of 114 games without a red card. While there have been a few moments during that time that have threatened that streak (such as Ben Mee’s intervention on Wesley in January 2020 or James Tarkowski’s on Richarlison in September 2021), there has never been an ejection.

Burnley played a total of 287 games in the Premier League, in which the team received 8 red cards. Interestingly, none of them came at their home stadium, Turf Moor.

Three years without a red card seems even more incredible when compared to Arsenal – the latter received 15 red cards in the same period, the last one so far being against Wolves by Gabriel Martinelli.

114 games without a red card is already an impressive feat, and in the age of VAR where the referee can look back at every tackle, but Burnley have a chance to extend the streak further.

Source: The Athletic, Premier League