UEFA has decided to remove pending yellow cards once the Round of 16 is completed for the 2019-20 season. This applies to both the Champions League and the Europa League.
The decision amends articles in the Regulations of the Europa League and the Champions League where yellow cards had been suspended after the quarterfinals.
“Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire on completion of the playoffs," UEFA said. "They are not carried forward to the group stage. In addition, all yellow cards expire on completion of the Round of 16. They are not carried forward to the quarterfinals.”
Yellow cards will not be carried forward from the @ChampionsLeague or @EuropaLeague Round of 16 stages in this season’s competitions.#UCL #UEL
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 4, 2020
These rules will also be carried out to the 2020-21 qualifying phase and playoffs for both the Champions League and Europa League.
So what does this mean for our dear yellow-card holders? A few key players like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Joshua Kimmich are each sitting on two yellow cards accumulated in the Group Stages and the first leg of the Round of 16. Those cards will be erased after the second leg of the Round of 16.
But Messi and Kimmich have a more complicated outlook going into the quarterfinals. Both Barcelona and Bayern Munich have one more game in the second leg of the Round of 16. If either player sustains a yellow card in their next game, that card will result in a suspension for the quarterfinals. If they can just squeeze by these next matches they’ll be safe and free to play.
