Clarity over possible suspension threat for Doncaster Rovers star as EFL threshold explained
Robbie Gotts has arguably been in a league of his own in recent months, thanks to some stellar performances in the engine room for Doncaster Rovers.
A by-product of his tenacious play however is that he can sometimes pick up cheap bookings. That's been the case the last two games, with a caution dished out in the excellent displays away at Bolton and then Barnsley. That took the former Leeds United man on to nine yellow cards in the league so far. It led to some supporters worrying out loud over whether he was at risk of a potential ban if he was to reach double figures in the next league game – Tuesday night’s re-arranged fixture at home to Port Vale.
But we can confirm the threshold for such a punishment has already passed.
The EFL rules state that any player who picks up ten yellows by game week 37 will get a two-game ban. For Rovers that was the midweek stalemate against Bolton. It means the next threshold is if a player is carded 15 times over the course of the 46-game season. If that happens it would result in a three-match ban, carried over into next season.
Thankfully for Rovers that prospect looks slim, with eight games left to play. In terms of cards received, Gotts is top on nine yellows with Owen Bailey and George Broadbent on eight. So far, Rovers have not received a red card this season - in stark contrast to last term when they received eight dismissals on their way to the League Two title.