£40m Newcastle United star facing Champions League ban

Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton is walking a disciplinary tightrope in the Champions League.

Joelinton had to be escorted down the tunnel at full-time as tempers flared after Newcastle United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.

Newcastle United's Brazilian midfielder #07 Joelinton (L) and Manchester City's Spanish midfielder #14 Nico Gonzalez (R) have words on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on November 22, 2025. Newcastle won the game 2-1. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

placeholder image — Newcastle United's Brazilian midfielder #07 Joelinton (L) and Manchester City's Spanish midfielder #14 Nico Gonzalez (R) have words on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on November 22, 2025. Newcastle won the game 2-1. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

All three goals came in seven second-half minutes as Harvey Barnes opened the scoring before putting the Magpies back in front after Ruben Dias equalised.

Man City felt aggrieved that Barnes’ winner was able to stand, believing the winger fouled goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma moments earlier. There was a lengthy VAR check, though that was to determine if Bruno Guimaraes was offside in the build-up.

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Joelinton was shown a yellow card in stoppage time for a cynical foul and risked further punishment at the end of the game. Pep Guardiola appeared to be arguing with Guimaraes over the goal before Joelinton was seen being escorted by the tunnel by the Magpies’ security man.

Eddie Howe explained after the game that the Brazilian, who joined from Hoffenheim for £40million in 2019, returned to the dressing room following advice from referee Sam Barrott, alleviating the risk of the situation escalating.

Joelinton facing Champions League suspension - on one condition

Howe’s side now turn to their focus to Tuesday’s Champions League tie away to Marseille, another evening where Joelinton will need to keep his discipline in check.

The 29-year-old has been booked twice in Newcastle’s opening four Champions League matches. A third caution before the league phase is over would force him to serve a one-match suspension.

UEFA rules state “From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).”

Howe’s side have four league games left to play. After Marseille, they visit Bayer Leverkusen before hosting PSV Eindhoven in January and then travelling to Paris Saint-Germain a week later.

Newcastle currently sit sixth in the table, level on points with the likes of PSG, Real Madrid and Liverpool. The top eight advance automatically to the last 16, while clubs ranked ninth to 24th take part in a seeded play-off round.

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