By Andrew Warshaw
May 3 – UEFA has refused to change its rules to allow a raft of suspended players to take part in the Bayern Munich-Chelsea Champions League final later this month.
Although UEFA will allow yellow cards issued in the group stages of this summer’s European Championship to be waived for the quarterfinals, the same policy will not be adopted for the showdown of the European club season.
“Different rules can apply in different competitions,” a UEFA spokesman said.
“The rules are a result of careful, democratic procedure.”
Six players have been ruled out of the Champions League final for bookings – three from Chelsea and three from Bayern – with Chelsea skipper John Terry (pictured below) added to that list because of his automatic red in the semi-finals.
In addition to Terry, Chelsea will be missing Ramires, Branislav Ivanović and Raul Meireles (pictured above, right), with Luiz Gustavo, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber suspended for Bayern.
The International players’ union FIFPro had made a plea for the six to be allowed to play but that was rejected.
Michael van Praag, head of UEFA’s Champions League Rules group, was quoted as saying: “We have just had three sessions with representatives of the European Clubs’ Association (ECA) 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.”
Before that announcement, Simon Barker, a spokesman for FIFPro, said: “Anybody committing a serious offence in the semi-final should be awarded a red card and miss the final, but the offences that result in a yellow card do not justify the serious punishment of missing the match of your life.
“Some people say this will give players the licence to kick all and sundry during the semi-final, but that is utter nonsense.
“Any serious offence will result in a red card and that still means exclusion from the final.”
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