Ahead of last year’s Champions League semifinal, Bayern Munich faced the prospect of losing several players due to impending yellow card suspensions. Ahead of this season, UEFA took to heart an appeal made at the time by FCB coach Vincent Kompany.
“This suspension rule is too harsh,” FCB coach Vincent Kompany had complained in April. The background: As many as four of his key players were at risk of a yellow-card suspension for the first leg of the semifinals if they received another caution in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Real Madrid.
Last season, in all three European club competitions—the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League—an automatic one-game suspension was imposed after the third caution starting in the group stage, and subsequently for every odd-numbered yellow card (fifth, seventh, etc.). The exception is defined in Article 63.04, which states that “all cautions expire upon completion of the quarterfinal matches.”
Since the transition from a group stage to a league phase starting in the 2024–25 season, clubs have had to play more matches in UEFA club competitions. “There are more games than before, yet you’re still suspended after three yellow cards,” Kompany explained at the time. His message was clear: A suspension should not be imposed after the third yellow card, but only after the fourth or even the fifth.
For all three UEFA competitions: Suspension only after the fourth yellow card
An appeal that UEFA has heeded: Effective immediately, players and officials will only be suspended for one match after receiving their fourth yellow card. However, each subsequent even-numbered yellow card (sixth, eighth, etc.) will result in an additional one-game suspension. These changes will take effect starting with the 2026–27 season for all three UEFA club competitions.
Kompany Himself a Victim of the Old Rule
Interestingly, Kompany was himself affected by the old suspension rule. During the 4-3 home win against Real Madrid, the Belgian coach received his third yellow card of the competition in the 43rd minute and was forced to watch from the sidelines during the spectacular 5-4 victory in the first leg of the semifinal against PSG, who would go on to win the Champions League.