UEFA put back squads announcement
UEFA have delayed the announcement of squads for the Champions League qualifiers until Monday morning to allow all submitted lists to be properly processed.
The deadline for clubs to lodge their 25-man party with European football’s governing body ahead of the third qualifying round was at midnight.
However, with a total of 32 teams involved – including Arsenal, Liverpool and Hearts – it will take time to collate all the relevant documentation.
A UEFA spokesman confirmed to PA Sport this morning: “We have been told by the department which deals with the registration of players that officially everything will be ready and confirmed as of Monday.
“This is because the deadline was at midnight today and they are still collecting lists of players and they need one day for it all to be put in the system, with everything confirmed.
“This is the deadline for the third qualifying round of the Champions League, and by September 1 if any team wants to register any new players for the group phases, then they can.”
While Arsenal have now submitted their squad list to UEFA, it has not yet been made available publicly.
It remains to be seen whether manager Arsene Wenger has included Ashley Cole.
The future of the England left-back would appear to now lie away from Arsenal, following extracts in his forthcoming autobiography criticising the way the club dealt with the ‘tapping-up’ scandal which enveloped the Gunners and Chelsea last year.
The Barclays Premiership champions are expected to sign Cole in a reported £25million deal before the transfer window closes, with Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein admitting initial talks between the two London clubs have taken place.
Cole, 25, did return to training with the Gunners earlier this week, although he was sent home by the club doctor after complaining of stomach trouble.
With striker Thierry Henry set to be rested and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann suspended after being sent off in the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, Wenger will already be without two of his key performers for the clash with Dinamo Zagreb.
Although the Arsenal manager could elect to also omit Cole on fitness grounds, should the England defender feature in next week’s match then it would make him ineligible to represent another club in the Champions League this season.
“If a player went somewhere later, then they would not be able to play in the same competition,” the UEFA spokesman confirmed.
