Europa League suspension rules explained ahead of Aston Villa’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: Getty Images)
Five Aston Villa players successfully walked a disciplinary tightrope in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Lucas Digne, Matty Cash, and Victor Lindelof had all collected two yellow cards in the competition ahead the second leg against Bologna earlier this month.
Despite the risk of losing any of them to suspension if they received a third booking, Unai Emery ignored the threat and selected his strongest team. The decision paid off, as Villa thrashed the Serie A side 4–0 on the night, sealing a 7–1 aggregate victory.
UEFA rules state that, from the first match of the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after accumulating three yellow cards that do not result in a red, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution.
These rules applied up until the completion of the quarter-finals, meaning that yellow card counts have now essentially been reset.
This comes as positive news for Villa, given the number of players who had accumulated multiple bookings – they can now breathe a sigh of relief.
The only way a player can be suspended for the Europa League final – should Villa progress past Nottingham Forest – is by receiving a red card.
Even if a player is cautioned in both legs of a successful semi-final tie, they cannot be suspended for the final.
All cautions and pending yellow card suspensions from the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League expire at the end of the season.
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