Soccer

UEFA relaxes cup-tied restrictions in Champions League, Europa League

UEFA eased regulations Tuesday that prevent teams in the Champions League and Europa League knockout stages from fielding players who are “cup-tied” in the competitions.

Starting in the 2018-19 season, clubs will have the opportunity to register three players who suited up for other teams in either the Champions League or Europa League.

For example, the current rule prohibits Barcelona from playing mid-season arrival Philippe Coutinho in the Champions League because he participated in the group stage of the tournament with Liverpool.

Arsenal has also been forced to keep club-record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the sidelines during its Europa League run because former outfit Borussia Dortmund dropped into the competition as a third-place finisher in the Champions League group stage.

In addition to abolishing the cup-tied rule, UEFA announced the following changes:

  • Teams that reach the finals of the Champions League and Europa League, as well as the UEFA Super Cup, will be able to carry a 23-man squad instead of the usual 18.
  • A fourth substitute will be available for use in extra time of any match in the knockout rounds.
  • Most matches from the Champions League play-offs and on will kick off at 3 p.m. ET (9:00 CET), with two group-stage fixtures on Tuesday and another pair on Wednesday kicking off at 12:55 p.m. ET (18:55 p.m. CET). All fixtures on the final matchday will be played at the same time.
  • Europa League matches up until the round of 16 will take place at 12:55 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final to be played at 3 p.m. ET.