Changes to the rules in the Champions League and Europa League have already been made, but UEFA has just revealed new modifications. The news came via an announcement on their official website which made public five major shake-ups.
The biggest change of them all is the ability to “register three new eligible players without any restrictions” after the group stage of the Champions League and Europa League. This means European football’s world governing body will do away with the rule that restricts cup-tied players from playing for their new teams upon sealing a January transfer window move.
This is the rule that is keeping Philippe Coutinho from playing with Barcelona in Europe this season, a similar roadblock facing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal. Unfortunately, nothing will change for them this season, as all of these new rules will only come into effect for next season.
Elsewhere, fans will be seeing the introduction of a fourth substitute. However, this can only occur if the game goes into extra-time with all the three substitutions having been used up.
Furthermore; the Champions League, Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup finals will witness an increase in the Matchday squad to 23 players. The remaining group and knockout stage matches will remain at 18 players.
There will also be changes to kick-off time, with matches in both competitions set to start mainly at 21:00 CET and 18:55 CET in a few group-stage ties. Elsewhere, a winner of three consecutive or five Europa League crowns in total will be handed a multiple-winner badge on their shirt sleeve.
