Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has incurred a one-match suspension that rules him out of the club’s high-profile New Year fixture against Manchester City. The disciplinary sanction follows an early yellow card during Tuesday night’s Premier League encounter with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Referee Sam Barrott cautioned the Ecuadorian international in the 4th minute for a tactical foul on Adrien Truffert, as the defender attempted to launch a counter-attack down the left flank.
This caution represents Caicedo’s fifth yellow card of the 2025/26 campaign, triggering an automatic ban under Football Association regulations. League rules mandate a one-game suspension for any player accumulating five bookings within the first 19 matches of the season. Given that the Bournemouth fixture marks the 19th matchday for Enzo Maresca’s side, Caicedo failed to navigate the final match before the disciplinary threshold increases to ten yellow cards.
The upcoming absence marks the second time the 24-year-old has faced a domestic ban this season. The midfielder previously served a three-match suspension in November following a straight red card during a 1-1 stalemate with Arsenal. His recurring disciplinary issues present a tactical headache for Maresca, who must now restructure his midfield without one of his most consistent starters for the trip to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Chelsea supporters have expressed frustration on social media, noting the timing of the foul so early in a crucial match. The Blues currently sit in a competitive position in the top half of the table, but the loss of Caicedo’s defensive shielding against the defending champions complicates their pursuit of European qualification. Romeo Lavia or Enzo Fernández will likely fill the void in the engine room as Chelsea looks to secure their first victory of the new calendar year against Pep Guardiola’s side.
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