UEFA chiefs have agreed a major new rule change over injured players – and it could be good news for sidelined Prem stars.
When the nine Prem clubs playing in Uefa’s three competitions confirmed their squads for this season’s initial phase there were some major omissions.
Spurs left out £30m France under-21 ace Mathys Tel, Liverpool omitted Italian Federico Chiesa, while Arsenal had no place for Gabriel Jesus and on-loan Facundo Buononotte missed out for Chelsea.
It meant they could not be involved in their sides’ Champions League campaign until the knock-out phase in the spring.
But that could now change after, in a surprise move, Uefa’s ruling executive committee announced it had agreed an “amendment” to regulations for the three club competitions.
Under the revised rulebook, to come into immediate effect, clubs will now be allowed the “temporary” replacement of one outfield player “with a long-term injury or illness” up until the sixth competition match day in December – when the Conference League initial phase will end.
Uefa said: “The reasoning for the adaptation is to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and players are safeguarded from additional workload pressure.”
Liam Delap’s 10-week absence with a hamstring injury looks to have immediately opened the door for Argentine Buononotte at Stamford Bridge while the decision could see a way back for Tel, Chiesa and Jesus.
Tel admitted during his return to France under-21 duty last week that his omission “definitely hurts” although he pledged to make his case to boss Thomas Frank on the pitch.
And now he could be the beneficiary if Spurs do get an attacking injury over the rest of the autumn part of the campaign.
In another decision during the meeting in the Albanian capital Tirana, it was confirmed that the 2027 Champions League Final will be held in Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano home – the second time it has been held there in eight years.
The only other contender, Baku, had been unofficially ruled out before the vote, with Spanish officials confidently briefing about another Madrid final since April.
However, the decision did appear a deliberate snub to Super League instigators Real Madrid, who have spent a fortune on upgrading the Bernabeu but who remain outsiders after their attempts to usurp Uefa’s dominance over club football.
But Uefa bosses did kick the can down the road when they discussed requests from LaLiga and Serie A chiefs to authorise their desire to be allowed to play matches outside their home countries.
LaLiga wants to stage Girona’s home game with Barcelona in Miami just before Christmas, with AC Milan’s clash against Como earmarked for Perth in February.
Fifa’s decision to end their legal action against US sports promoters Relevant, now Uefa’s official marketing partner, opened the door.
But Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin went public with his reservations last week.
In a statement, Uefa said: “The committee acknowledged it as an important and growing issue but expressed the desire to ensure that it has the views of all stakeholders before coming to a final decision.
There are many issues to resolve and as the European governing body, UEFA has a responsibility to take all such factors into account.
“As a result, no decision was taken today but UEFA will undertake a round of consultation with all stakeholders in European football – including fans.”
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