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Tag: UEFA

  • Arbitration Court overturns UEFA ban on AC Milan

    The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday overturned a decision by European soccer body UEFA to ban AC Milan from next season’s Europa League competition.

    CAS added that the Italian club’s finances had improved after a recent ownership change.

    UEFA said last month that AC Milan did not meet a break-even requirement under its Financial Fair Play regulations, adding the club had not provided sufficient evidence of its financial stability.

    Since then, U.S. hedge fund Elliott Management has taken control of the indebted soccer club from Chinese businessman Li Yonghong and promised to inject 50 million euros to help stabilise its finances.

    Li bought the Serie A club last year from former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with the help of Elliott, but then failed to repay the fund.

    In a statement, the court said that UEFA was not able to consider some important elements at the time of its decision, “in particular that the current financial situation of the club was now better, following the recent change in the club’s ownership”.

    It referred the case back to UEFA to “issue a new proportionate disciplinary measure on the basis of the current financial situation of the club”.

    Reuters/NAN

  • UEFA allows fourth sub in extra time of Champions League finals

    Teams will be able to use a fourth substitute in extra time in next season’s Champions League and Europa League, Uefa has announced.

    Clubs can also list 12 substitutes on teamsheets, rather than the current seven, in the finals.

    Other rule amendments from European football’s governing body include allowing coaching staff to use hand-held electronic devices.

    They can use equipment including mobile phones, tablets and laptops.

    The changes take effect immediately and also apply to other competitions, including the 2020 European Championship.

    A fifth substitute will be allowed in next season’s Uefa Youth League, plus the men’s and women’s European Under-17 and Under-19 Championships.

    Uefa says the hand-held electronic equipment can be used by coaches in the stands or on the bench if it directly relates to player welfare or safety, or for tactical/coaching reasons.

    It means medical staff will be able to review potential concussions on laptops.

    Officials and medics did not see a collision between Loris Karius and Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos in the 2017-18 Champions League final, which may have led to the Liverpool keeper’s concussion.

    In 2016, rugby union’s English Premiership became the first league in the world to allow access to tablets in order for staff to review potentially concerning incidents.

    Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata was the sport’s first fourth substitute at the Club World Cup last year as part of a trial.

    Fifa, the sport’s world governing body, approved the use of a fourth substitute in extra time earlier this year and the rule has applied at the World Cup in Russia.

    The Football Association announced last summer that it would permit an extra substitute in the latter stages of the FA Cup, from the quarter-finals on, while the Football League has permitted a fourth substitute in extra time in all EFL Cup ties since last summer.

    Manchester City were the first team to make use of it in England, as Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Raheem Sterling on 105 minutes in their semi-final defeat by Arsenal.

    In Scotland, Ayr United benefited from the rule change in their Scottish Cup fifth-round win over Queen’s Park.

    BBC

  • Buffon charged by UEFA for aggressive behaviour

    Gianluigi Buffon has been charged by UEFA for aggressive behaviour towards referee Michael Oliver during Juventus’ Champions League elimination by Real Madrid.

    The Italian was sent-off after he confronted Oliver following the award of a late penalty to Real in their quarter-final second leg at the Bernabeu last month.

    In post-match interviews, the 40-year-old Italy veteran criticised Oliver, questioning his ability, and later refused to apologise for his behaviour.

    UEFA also “strongly condemned” subsequent abuse sent to Oliver and his wife.

    UEFA says the case against Buffon relates to “general principles of conduct” and their disciplinary panel will judge the case on May 31.

    Buffon retired from international football after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, but reports in Italy have said he may consider a return.

    There have also been reports, however, that he is considering retirement completely from the professional game this summer.

  • Roma wins! Barcelona knocked out of UEFA Champions League

    It was nothing short of a shock on Tuesday night when Barcelona were knocked out of the Uefa Champions League by AS Roma.

    The Catalan club had arrived the Italian capital with a three-goal lead after winning the first leg 4-1 but that away goal told.

    Edin Dzeko’s goal in the first half was doubled by a De Rossi penalty in the second half. The Italian team, smelling blood, did not, however, lose its defensive shape but bid its time.

    It was rewarded with a third and qualification-assuring goal in the 82nd minute off a header by Mostas Manolas.

    They become the third team in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal deficit.

    It was a night of upsets as at the same time in England, Liverpool came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 (agg 5-1) to qualify for the semi-final.

  • Man City, Barca kicked out of UEFA’s Champions League

    In one night, Manchester United and Barcelona FC have both been shockingly kicked out of the UEFA’s Champions League game.

    Barcelona FC was 90 minutes away from a return to the Champions League semifinals, but if failed to finish off Roma and is shockingly on the outside looking in for Europe’s final four.

    Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas scored, while Roma neutralized Lionel Messi and advanced to the Champions League semifinals on the away goal tiebreaker after a 3-0 win on the day and a 4-4 aggregate draw.

    Barcelona carried a 4-1 edge into the second leg of their quarterfinal, thanks to two Roma own goals and strikes from Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez. But Roma was given a brief lifeline from Dzeko, whose away goal proved valuable in factoring into the result.

    Dzeko was the one to kick-start Roma’s comeback attempts. After Barcelona carved out a pair of early chances, Dzeko brought Roma within 4-2 on aggregate with a classy finish in the sixth minute, restoring hope in the Italian capital.

    The goal came moments later, though. Manolas, whose own goal helped contribute to the deficit, scored off a glancing header on a corner kick, making it 3-0 on the day and putting Roma ahead via the away goal tiebreaker.

    Daniele De Rossi did the honors from the penalty spot, firing a blast by ter Stegen, making it 4-3 Barcelona on aggregate. With the away goal from the first leg, Roma just needs one more to shockingly send Barcelona tumbling out of the competition.

    Man City vs Liverpool

    Liverpool reached their first Champions League semi-final for 10 years after coming from behind to win at Manchester City and secure a 5-1 aggregate win.

    City made the perfect start as they tried to reel in a 3-0 deficit from the first leg when Raheem Sterling set up Gabriel Jesus for a cool finish after only two minutes – but they never recovered from a contentious incident just before half-time that saw manager Pep Guardiola sent off.

    Bernardo Silva had struck the post and with Liverpool under intense pressure, Leroy Sane scrambled home what City thought was a crucial second.

    The goal was ruled out for offside even though the ball appeared to come off Liverpool’s James Milner and G.uardiola marched on to the pitch in an explosion of fury to remonstrate with referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. The outburst saw him forced to watch the second half from the stands.

    With Guardiola away from his technical area, City lost momentum and the visitors delivered the killer blow of the away goal when, inevitably, Mohamed Salah chipped in his 39th goal of the season after a powerful run by Sadio Mane in the 56th minute.

    Roberto Firmino’s classy finish 13 minutes from time completed the formalities and Liverpool will now have their sights set on a sixth triumph in Europe’s elite competition.

    The Reds will discover their semi-final opponents when the draw is made on Friday.

     

  • UEFA see Man Utd move as a big boost for women’s game

    UEFA see Man Utd move as a big boost for women’s game

    Manchester United’s decision to establish their first professional women’s team will boost the female game across Europe, UEFA’s head of marketing activities and sponsorship said on Wednesday.

    The highest revenue-generating soccer club in the world, according to financial services firm Deloitte, United last week announced that they had applied to enter the second tier of the Women’s Super League.

    The former European champions have until now stood out from Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool as the only top tier club not to have their own women’s side.

    UEFA’s Peter Willems said it was important for the development of women’s soccer and the European body’s international competitions to have the biggest clubs fully engaged.

    “When big brands in an area are going behind something, that will create momentum,” the Belgian told Reuters on Wednesday at a Leaders XX Series think tank event at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium.

    “Manchester United coming in to women’s football, I can only see advantages for all the levels. For English football but also for European football, for Manchester United themselves,” he added.

    “I think you need a few of these heavyweights to push it forward.”

    Reuters

  • Uefa introduce new Champions League rules ahead of next season

    Uefa introduce new Champions League rules ahead of next season

    The governing body Uefa announce that players will be able to represent two different clubs in the same European cup competition from next season after changing its rules.

    As it stands, January signings cannot play for a second club in the Champions League or Europa League if they have already featured in that competition.

    A fourth substitute will be allowed in extra time of knockout ties, while 12 substitutes can be named in the finals.

    Some Champions League group games will kick off earlier – at 17:55 BST/GMT.

    New Changes:

    Registering new players:

    A club may register three new eligible players without any restrictions after the group stage.

    “This is in line with the existing regulatory situation in the different domestic leagues, which does not impose restrictions on the eligibility for competitions of players registered for a new club during the winter transfer window,” said Uefa.

    This season, Barcelona are not able to select Philippe Coutinho for their Champions League knockout ties because he featured earlier in the competition for Liverpool.

    Likewise, striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cannot play for Arsenal in their Europa League campaign because he played in the competition for Borussia Dortmund.

    However, the Gunners are able to pick Henrikh Mkhitaryan because he played in the Champions League, not the Europa League, for Manchester United. The same applies to Alexis Sanchez, who moved to United in a swap deal with Mkhitaryan.

    Kick-off times:

    As it stands, all Champions League games kick off at 19:45 BST/GMT, although Uefa can make exceptions to this rule.

    Staggered kick-off times will be introduced as standard next season.

    In the group stage there will be two matches played on the Tuesday, and two on the Wednesday, kicking off at 17:55 BST/GMT.

    All fixtures on the last matchday will be played simultaneously.

    The rest of the matches, including all the knockout ties, will kick off at 20:00 BST/GMT.

    Europa League matches from the group stage until the last 16 will kick off at 17:55 and 20:00. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all kick off at 20:00.

    Substitutes:

    A fourth substitute may be introduced in knockout matches – but only during extra time. This will not affect the other three substitutions.

    Teams contesting the Champions League and Europa League finals, plus the Uefa Super Cup, can name a matchday squad of 23 players instead of the 18 allowed in the rest of the competition.

    “This gives clubs and, in particular, coaches more flexibility regarding substitutes, and facilitate their squad management for the most important fixture of the season,” Uefa said.

    BBC