Poor on-field conduct could cost Tottenham Hotspur their Premier League place and leave Chelsea out of Champions League football, according to data from Transfermarkt.
Spurs and Chelsea currently sit at the bottom of the trusted website’s ‘fair play’ rankings, with the Blues dead last on 98 points, while the Lilywhites sit slightly above on 91 points.
Points are accumulated for poor behaviour, with a yellow card earning a club one point, a second yellow earning three points, and a straight red card earning five points, meaning clubs with a lower total are more disciplined.
Poor team control can indicate many issues, but it usually highlights poor leadership, a lack of emotional maturity, or a weak coaching setup.
Finlay Byrne, a former Saturday and Sunday League referee, said: “Discipline is massive in football.
“If you constantly pick up cards, you lose control of the game, and it disrupts everything you’re trying to do.”
It is no surprise that the team at the top of the ‘fair play’ table is Premier League leaders Arsenal, showing how a side that can stay disciplined and poised in high-pressure situations can succeed.
The ex-referee continued: “As soon as a player is on a yellow, it changes how they play.
“They become more cautious, perhaps pulling out of tackles, and that can give the other team the upper hand.”
Teams that stay level-headed and maintain an elite attitude are usually the ones who go on to win the big trophies.
This elite approach has been questioned at both Tottenham and Chelsea throughout the season.
Chelsea have faced scrutiny over a lack of leadership, maturity, and coaching structure, and much of the fan frustration falls on the board.
Since Todd Boehly’s takeover in 2022, the club has focused on signing emerging talents and phasing out older, experienced players.
The removal of dressing room leaders in favour of developing players creates a cycle of ill-discipline and immaturity, as young players have no one to learn from when mistakes occur.
This is reflected in the club’s three second-yellow cards, more than any other team.
Life-long Chelsea fan and West London local Olivia Davis said: “At this level, you need control, and right now, we just do not have it.
“When things start going wrong, it spirals, and there’s no one on the pitch calming things down.”
The managerial inconsistency of Boehly’s tenure also plays a factor, with the club now on its fifth permanent manager since he took charge.
This lack of a long-term figurehead, capable of guiding standards and setting expectations, has undoubtedly caused disruption.
This season, Chelsea have received seven red cards, just two shy of the all-time Premier League record held jointly by Sunderland in 2009-10 and Queens Park Rangers in 2011-12.
With eight games remaining, and the club averaging a sending-off every 4.2 games, they could come close to matching those sides.
Even if they do not break the record, these conduct problems could cost Chelsea a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Davis added: “We have got a really young team, and sometimes under pressure, they make rash decisions.
“You can’t keep going down to ten men and expect to win games.”
Chelsea still have to face fellow European hopefuls Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as title-chasing Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
If these behavioural issues persist, they could severely affect the remaining fixtures, with the team currently three points off a guaranteed spot in Europe.
For Tottenham Hotspur, the issue is less about immaturity and more about team outlook.
The club has spent decades battling the ‘Spursy’ label – a belief that they cannot win trophies – a curse they perhaps thought they overcame by winning the Europa League last season.
However, this expected attitude shift has not materialised, and the club appears to have regressed.
Tottenham have the most yellow cards of any London club with 73, second overall to Brighton’s 74.
The North London side have also received four red cards in total, one of them resulting from a second yellow, and this contributes negatively to their ongoing relegation battle.
Captain Cristian Romero has faced major criticism for his perceived lack of poise, particularly following his first-half dismissal against Manchester United.
When a club’s captain, expected to set an example, is sent off, it sends a negative signal to the rest of the team.
If Spurs were relegated, it would be the biggest shock the league has seen since Leicester City won the Premier League a decade ago.
Poor conduct may not be the only factor behind either club’s struggles, but it is a clear contributor and a signal of a wider attitude issue.
Chelsea and Spurs, both giants of London and global football, are clearly suffering from major mindset challenges, which could be the key reason they fall short of where they want to be next season.
Featured image credit: Call Me Fred via Unsplash
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