Saturday 19 July 2014
UEFA has announced their modified disciplinary rules where bookings of players on a yellow card will be voided following the quarterfinal stages of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League.
“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” a statement posted on UEFA’s official website read.,
"Bookings will therefore not be carried forward to the semi-finals."
Xabi Alonso,Real Madrid midfielder had to miss the Champions League final last year after picking up his 3rd yellow card in the semi-final 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 because of his celebration on the pitch during the Champions League final.
Roy Keane and Paul Scholes had suffered the similar fate when they had to sit out of the 1999 Champions League final for Manchester United.
