Despite a number of pundits still claiming football is no longer a contact sport, 'Why play the ball when you can play the man?' is a footballing philosophy still rife in the game, and Championship sides have racked up a whopping 1504 yellow cards between them this season.
Here, we take a look (via WhoScored stats) at the 2020/21 Championship's disciplinary figures including fouls, bookings, red cards, and examine where Sheffield Wednesday rank among every other second-tier side in the 'dirtiest' teams league table.
We've awarded half a point for a foul, one point for a yellow, three for two yellows followed by a red, and five for a straight red. The teams are ranked from cleanest to dirtiest, and we've also included each team's most ill-disciplined player for good measure:
1. Reading - Total score: 301
Fouls: 506. Yellow cards: 48. Second yellow then red: 0. Straight red cards: 0. Worst disciplined player: Omar Richards. Photo: Lewis Storey
2. Norwich City - Total score: 317
Fouls: 487. Yellow cards: 57. Second yellow then red: 2. Straight red cards: 2. Worst disciplined player: Emi Buendia. Photo: Stephen Pond
3. Bristol City - Total score: 319
Fouls: 516. Yellow cards: 53. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Henri Lansbury. Photo: Nathan Stirk
4. Swansea City - Total score: 337
Fouls: 538. Yellow cards: 65. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 0. Worst disciplined player: Ryan Bennett. Photo: Shaun Botterill