BERLIN: Yellow cards from previous matches in the Champions League and Europa League are scrapped after the round of 16 and not the quarterfinals this season owing to the changed competition format.
The ruling body UEFA said on Tuesday the move was made because the quarterfinals and semis are played as single-leg games and not over two legs as usual because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“All yellow cards expire on completion of the round of 16. They are not carried forward to the quarterfinals,” UEFA said, adding the decision was taken “to recreate the same balance of matches left after the removal of pending yellow cards.”
Normally players are suspended after three yellow cards. The old rule to nullify all yellow cards after the quarterfinals made sure that no player missed a final over a yellow-card suspension. The same applies now as the quarters and semis are played in just one match. – dpa
