Amendments to the rules in UEFA-sponsored tournaments from the 2018-2019 season

06.07.2018 13:33

In the UEFA-sponsored tournaments, the 2018/2019 season comes into force amendments to game rules.

Number of replacements

The rule of making up to five substitutions with a maximum of three stops in the game during the main playing time is introduced, which will be applied only in the following UEFA competitions:

• UEFA Youth League Season-2018/2019;
• European Championships for players under the age of 17 in the 2018-2019 season;
• European Championships for players under the age of 19 in the 2018-2019 season;
• European Women's Championship Under-17 Season 2018-2019;
• European Women's Championship Under-19 Season 2018-2019.

The rule will be applied as follows:

• the team is allowed to make up to five substitutions;
• each team can make a maximum of three stops of the game to make a substitution;
• if the match is played in overtime, each team may make a maximum of four stops in the game, provided that at least one of these stops takes place in overtime;
• making substitutions during the break between halves, in the period before the start of overtime and during the break between halves of overtime does not reduce the number of game stops that can be used;
• The player who has been replaced may no longer take part in the match.

Fourth replacement in extra time

Additional substitutions will be allowed during the following UEFA competitions:

• UEFA Champions League Season-2018/2019;
• UEFA Europa League Season-2018/2019;
• UEFA Super Cup 2018;
• UEFA Women's Champions League 2018-2019 season;
• European Championship 2018-2020;
• European Women's Championship 2019-2021;
• UEFA Cup Regions 2018-2019.
• UEFA League of Nations for the 2018/2019 season - final tournament; 
• European qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Cup among women - the first and second round of the playoffs; 
• European Championship among players under the age of 21 2017-2019 - playoff rounds, semifinals, finals and playoffs for the Olympic Games during the final tournament, which will take place in Italy (June 2019); 
• European Championship for women under 19 years of the 2017/2018 season - semifinals and finals during the final tournament, which will take place in Switzerland (July 2018);
• European Under-19 Championship 2017/2018 - Semifinals, final and play-off round for the Under-20 World Cup during the final tournament in Finland (July 2018) ).

If less than three substitutions have been made during the main time, the team may use all four substitutions if the match goes beyond extra time.

The maximum number of replacement players in the match per match

Up to 12 substitutes can apply for a match in the following competitions:

• UEFA Super Cup 2018;
• European Championship among players under the age of 21, 2017-2019 (final tournament);
• UEFA League of Nations for the 2018/2019 season (all matches);
• European Championship 2018-2020 (all matches);
• European Women's Championship 2019-2021 (final tournament). 

Up to nine substitutes can be in the match application in the following competitions:

• UEFA Regions Cup 2018-2019 Season (Final Tournament);
• European Championships for players under the age of 19 in the 2018-2019 season (all matches);
• European Championships for players under the age of 17 in the 2018-2019 season (all matches);
• European Women's Championship Under-19 Season 2018/2019 (All Matches);
• European Women's Championship Under-17 Season 2018-2019 (All Matches).

Up to seven substitutes can be in the match application in the following competitions:

• UEFA Women's Champions League 2018-2019 season;
• UEFA Youth League Season-2018/2019;
• European Qualifying Matches for the 2019 Women's World Cup;
• European Women's Championship 2019-2021 - qualifying tournament and playoff rounds;
• European Championship among players under the age of 21 - qualifying tournament and playoff rounds;
• UEFA Champions League for the 2018/2019 season - all rounds, except for the final, where 12 substitutes are allowed;
• UEFA Europa League season 2018/2019 - all rounds, except for the final, where 12 substitutes are allowed;
• UEFA Regions Cup of the 2018/2019 season - qualifying competitions.

Use of electronic communication systems in the technical zone

The amendment, which takes effect immediately in UEFA tournaments, says that team officials can use any form of electronic communication if it relates directly to the health and safety of football players or to tactical / coaching aspects.

However, only small, mobile, portable devices (such as a microphone, headphones, mobile phone or smartphone, smart watch, laptop) can be used. Using unauthorized devices or misbehavior will result in the removal of team officials from the technical area.