Mohammed Kudus Oo Face Extended Ban for Violent Conduct

Mohammed Kudus may be facing an extended suspension following his red card for violent conduct during West Ham’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham. According to Football Insider, the Football Association (FA) is set to review the incident within the next 48 hours and may impose additional penalties.

The incident occurred in the 86th minute when Kudus lashed out at Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr, resulting in three Tottenham players on the ground. Kudus kicked van de Ven in the back, pushed him in the face, and shoved Sarr in the head, which also knocked Richarlison to the ground. Initially, referee Andrew Madley issued a yellow card, but after a VAR review, it was upgraded to a straight red.

Violent conduct typically incurs a minimum three-game suspension; however, the FA could extend this punishment up to six matches based on the officials’ reports. Notably, Joey Barton received a nine-game ban in 2012 for multiple violent incidents in a single match, setting a precedent for stricter penalties.

If Kudus is sidelined for more than three matches, it would significantly impact West Ham, as he has been a key player in their attack, scoring two goals in eight Premier League appearances this season. This follows an impressive debut campaign in 2023-24, during which he netted 18 goals.

West Ham’s manager, Julen Lopetegui, stated that he would discuss the incident with Kudus, although he did not clearly see what happened. As West Ham struggles in the lower mid-table, they are set to face Manchester United next Sunday. Meanwhile, United, under Erik ten Hag, will play a Europa League match against Fenerbahce before that.