New disciplinary rules for UEFA Champions League announced
UEFA has announced their disciplinary rules where players on a yellow card will have their bookings voided following the quarterfinal stages of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
In a statement posted on UEFA’s official website, it read, “Following a recommendation by the UEFA Club Competitions Committee - in order to implement in UEFA club competitions a rule which is already in force in the UEFA European Football Championship - the Emergency Panel decided that, as of this season, all yellow cards from the beginning of the group stage will expire on completion of the quarter-finals.”
"Bookings will therefore not be carried forward to the semi-finals."
Last year, Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso was forced to miss the Champions League final after picking up his third yellow card in Real’s semi-final tie against Bayern Munich. However, he will still be unavailable to play in Real Madrid’s UEFA Super Cup tie against Sevilla due to his ban for his celebration on the pitch during the Champions League final last season.
Former Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Paul Scholes had suffered the same scenario when they had to sit out of the 1999 Champions League final.
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