More players on bench than on pitch in European finals
TEAMS in UEFA’s club competitions next season will be able to make a fourth substitute in extratime and use new signings who have already played in the tournament for their former sides.
These changes were among several announced by European football’s governing body and they follow decisions made by UEFA’s executive committee in February and the game’s lawmaking body, the International Football Association Board, earlier this month.
From next season clubs that reach the Super Cup and the finals of the Champions League and Europa League will be able to have 12 substitutes on the bench, up from the usual seven.
UEFA said this will give “coaches more flexibility regarding substitutes, and facilitate their squad management for the most important fixture of the season”.
A fourth substitute in extratime has already been trialled by UEFA in age-group tournaments and is allowed in the FA Cup.
The decision to let clubs register three new players “without any restrictions” after the group stages effectively ends the idea of being ‘cup-tied’. For example, if the rule was in place this year, Philippe Coutinho would be able to play for Barcelona in the Champions League despite already featuring for Liverpool.
UEFA believe they are simply bringing their rules into line with what happens in domestic leagues across Europe.
The governing body also announced new kick-off times.
Champions League play-offs, group-stage games and knockout matches will now kick off at 8pm, but in the group stages two of the games on Tuesday and Wednesday will start at 5.55pm, apart from on the last match-day when they will be played simultaneously.
Europa League games will be split between these two kick-off times until the quarter-finals when they will all start at 8pm. The Super Cup will also kick off at 8pm. PHIL NEVILLE has been boosted by the return of Steph Houghton and Jordan Nobbs for England Women’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Manchester City defender Houghton and Arsenal midfielder Nobbs missed the recent SheBelieves Cup campaign in the United States through injury, but are back in the squad for next month’s Group One matches.
England host Wales at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium a week on Friday before travelling to Zenica the following Tuesday.
Neville has also added Reading goalkeeper Mary Earps and Arsenal forward Beth Mead to his squad, who are now ranked second in the world behind the USA team who beat them 1-0 in the final game of the SheBelieves Cup.
England manager Neville said: “I am really pleased for the players that their hard work has been recognised in the new rankings.
“To get to second in the world is a wonderful achievement, but if we want to take the last – and biggest – step to become No 1 then we have to deliver in matches like the two we have coming up.
“Because of what’s at stake they are more important than the SheBelieves and we will prepare accordingly.
“Wales will be my first competitive match in charge and it will be an incredible honour to walk out at a packed Premier League ground with this group of players.
“We are delighted to have Steph and Jordan back, but we also want to keep giving opportunities to the next generation of players coming through.”
Former Manchester United and Everton player Neville has also brought in Sunderland coach Melanie Copeland to assist him as Mo Marley is focusing on the Under-20 World Cup this summer.