The Union of European Football Associations has informed clubs of rule changes increasing yellow card suspension thresholds and updating stadium screen clocks. UEFA sent notification of two major modifications to European federations and clubs ahead of the upcoming season.
The modifications will apply across UEFA competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. The qualifying phase for the Champions League is already well underway, with teams including Fenerbahçe, Lyon, Bodø/Glimt, and Olympiacos having entered competition.
The first modification alters the number of cautions required for a suspension during the league phase. Previously, three yellow cards resulted in a one-match ban, with additional suspensions imposed after five and seven cautions.
New yellow card thresholds
Under the new rules, the threshold increases to four yellow cards for a one-match suspension. Further one-match bans will be added after six and eight yellow cards.
Article 63.02b of the UEFA regulations states that players and coaching staff are suspended for the following match after accumulating four yellow cards that have not resulted in a red card. The rule also applies a suspension after any subsequent even-numbered yellow card, such as a sixth or eighth caution, starting from the first match of the league phase.
UEFA confirmed that the updated yellow card rules will also take effect in both the Europa League and the Conference League.
Stadium clock updates
The second modification changes how stadium clocks operate on giant screens during matches. Stadium screen clocks previously stopped automatically at 45 and 90 minutes, which prevented supporters from knowing how much added time had elapsed.
Under the updated rule, stadium clocks will continue running until the referee ends each half, with the same process applied during extra time. UEFA noted that the change aligns its tournaments with English football, where the Premier League and EFL adopted running stadium clocks prior to the 2023-24 season.
