UEFA stand firm over yellow cards
UEFA will not change their rules on yellow cards for the Champions League for at least three years despite six players being suspended for the Chelsea v Bayern Munich final after being cautioned in the semi-finals.
European football’s governing body have already rejected a plea for clemency from the international players’ union FIFPro for the six players – three from each club – and have now stated their will be no change until at least after 2015.
Michael van Praag, the Dutch UEFA executive committee member who is head of the body’s Champions League Rules group, was quoted on FIFPro’s website saying: “We have just had three sessions with representatives of the European Clubs’ Association and others, in which we confirmed the rule for the coming three years.
“We did not receive any request whatsoever concerning the yellow card rule, not even from the representative of Bayern Munich. And so we will be continuing the rule for the next three years.”
UEFA will wipe the slate clean for yellow cards after the quarter-finals in Euro 2012 but Van Praag defended the apparent inconsistency.
He added: “Different rules can apply in different competitions. The current rules are the result of a careful, democratic procedure.”
Chelsea will be missing Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles, with Luiz Gustavo, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber suspended for Bayern.
Blues captain John Terry will also be suspended after being sent off against Barcelona in the semi-final second leg at the Nou Camp.
