Kind of.
And other changes that seem to make a lot of sense!
For the most part.
"Teams participating in UEFA's club competitions next season will be able to use new signings who have already played in the tournament for their former sides and make a fourth substitute in extra time.
The decision to let clubs register three new players "without any restrictions" after the group stages, however, may be more controversial, as it effectively ends the idea of being cup-tied.
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.
It also would have helped end ambiguity surrounding the eligibility of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who joined Arsenal in January.
Only Mkhitaryan, who joined from Manchester United, has been able to appear in Europa League games while Aubameyang, who moved from Borussia Dortmund, said earlier this month he is "really frustrated" that he cannot.
These changes were among several announced by European football's governing body on Tuesday and they follow decisions made by UEFA's executive committee in February and the game's law-making body, the International Football Association Board, earlier this month.
"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," UEFA said in a statementexplaining its decision to end the "cup tied" rule.
From next season, clubs reaching 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.
In the statement, UEFA said this will give "coaches more flexibility regarding substitutes, and facilitate their squad management for the most important fixture of the season."
Champions League playoffs, group-stage games and knock-out matches will now kick off at 9 p.m. CET, but in the group stages, two of the games on Tuesday and Wednesday will start at 6:55 p.m. CET, apart from on the last matchday, when they will be played simultaneously.
Europa League games will be split between these two kickoff times until the quarterfinals, when they will all start at 9 p.m. CET. The Super Cup will also kick off at 9 p.m. CET.
The split kickoffs may cause headaches for domestic schedules as nobody will want to schedule a game against televised European games. Two years ago, UEFA was annoyed when Manchester United's FA Cup replay at West Ham United was held at the same time as a Champions League quarterfinal, and Barcelona have played a league game in the earlier slot this season.
Another change announced on Tuesday was to allow clubs that have won the Europa League -- or its forerunner, the UEFA Cup -- three times in a row or five times in total to wear a multiple-winner badge on their shirt sleeves.
UEFA Ends Cup Tied Rule
posted on 28/3/18
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/3/18
comment by Manfrombelmonty (U1705)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
Of course it'll affect clubs transfer policies. The market will have changed. Clubs will be able to buy a commodity that can now affect their success that previously wouldn't be able to, in Europe at least.
Being able to buy a player who can play in all you're games is clearly much more attractive than the same player who can only play in some.
How big will this change will affect transfer policies remains to be seen, but it's a bit myopic to say it won't affect transfer policies at all
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So a club wants a player. That player becomes attainable. However, he was cup tied for a maximum of 7 matches. The club envisions the player staying for at least 4 years - 200+ games.
Are you really telling me the club would decide to turn down the opportunity and instead go for someone they didn't rate as high just because he wasn't cup tied?
Myopic is not signing a player you want at your club for a long time because he can't play in what may be as little as two games and a maximum of 7.
I really cannot see the big teams "decimate" the Celtics, Anderlechts, Benficas just because of this rule change. If those clubs had a player the big teams wanted then they would try and sign them regardless.
That is why Countinho is at Barca and not someone who can play in all their games who is allegedly a much more attractive option - say Jonjoe Shelvey.
posted on 28/3/18
I think this makes perfect sense if you have a January transfer window then players signed should be allowed play.
Its rather silly but ok some clubs might exploit it but you don't just signed a player for a couple games you sign them to be part of your team for all games.
I agree with te comment above about 4 years and 200 games.
If a city buy a guy for 6 months and then pay him for 4 years thats not a reason imo to stop all normal clubs form having the thing sorted
posted on 28/3/18
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
comment by Manfrombelmonty (U1705)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
Of course it'll affect clubs transfer policies. The market will have changed. Clubs will be able to buy a commodity that can now affect their success that previously wouldn't be able to, in Europe at least.
Being able to buy a player who can play in all you're games is clearly much more attractive than the same player who can only play in some.
How big will this change will affect transfer policies remains to be seen, but it's a bit myopic to say it won't affect transfer policies at all
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So a club wants a player. That player becomes attainable. However, he was cup tied for a maximum of 7 matches. The club envisions the player staying for at least 4 years - 200+ games.
Are you really telling me the club would decide to turn down the opportunity and instead go for someone they didn't rate as high just because he wasn't cup tied?
Myopic is not signing a player you want at your club for a long time because he can't play in what may be as little as two games and a maximum of 7.
I really cannot see the big teams "decimate" the Celtics, Anderlechts, Benficas just because of this rule change. If those clubs had a player the big teams wanted then they would try and sign them regardless.
That is why Countinho is at Barca and not someone who can play in all their games who is allegedly a much more attractive option - say Jonjoe Shelvey.
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I think Coutinho is a different situation than most would be. He was getting a dream move, as a Brazilian, to Spain to play for Barca, where his mate moved a few years previous. Barca were still hurting and their fans looking for appeasement after losing one of their best players and losing out on Coutinho in the summer. Both had to take their chance in January when it came regardless of CL.
I would say there are certainly more than a few occasions when clubs buy players in January who aren't cup tied so they can use them in Europe and therefore don't go for the cup tied player.
It may however stop players refusing to play as they are afraid of losing some attraction from the buying club as they would be cup-tied in Europe.
posted on 28/3/18
Never fully grasped the point of a player being cup-tied.
Feels like an unnecessary way to punish the player.
posted on 28/3/18
Nought wrong with the changes.
posted on 28/3/18
comment by The Lambeau Leap (U21050)
posted 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
Never fully grasped the point of a player being cup-tied.
Feels like an unnecessary way to punish the player.
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I think was to stop clubs from getting to a final, "buying" loads of players for the final and then selling them back after for the same fee.
posted on 28/3/18
I would say there are certainly more than a few occasions when clubs buy players in January who aren't cup tied so they can use them in Europe and therefore don't go for the cup tied player.
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And that's exactly it. Changing player eligibility rules can only change the way clubs conduct their transfer business. The change absolutely enables the rich clubs to strengthen their teams for the latter stages of the CL.
posted on 29/3/18
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 29/3/18
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator