Key Takeaways:
- UEFA announced a rule revision allowing clubs to make one player change to their Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League squad lists in the event of a serious injury.
- The regulation, approved for the 2025/26 season, permits a temporary replacement of a maximum of one outfield player with a long-term injury or illness up to and including the 6th round of the tournament’s main phase.
- UEFA’s statement did not specify the criteria for what constitutes a sufficiently serious injury for replacement, raising questions about cases such as Liam Delap’s ongoing knee issues.
Regulation Amendments and Objectives
In a significant move just days before the new European club season commences, UEFA has instituted a key alteration to its player registration rules. Clubs participating in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League will now be permitted to replace one injured player on their official tournament list, provided the injury is deemed serious. The governing body’s aim is to ensure equitable squad sizes and safeguard athletes from excessive workload due to reduced numbers.
🗓️ The next meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee is scheduled for 3 December 2025 at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
⬇️ Learn more about the decisions made at today’s meeting in Tirana, Albania.
— UEFA (@UEFA) September 11, 2025
Official Executive Committee Approval
The UEFA Executive Committee has given formal approval to this amendment for the 2025/26 campaign. According to UEFA’s official communication, clubs will be able to temporarily substitute a maximum of one outfield player suffering a long-term injury or illness during the principal stage of the competition. This option is available up to and including the 6th round, which concludes the league phase of the Conference League. Notably, the Champions League and Europa League both feature two additional rounds played in January following this stage.
| Competition | Maximum Replacement | Applicable Until |
|---|---|---|
| Champions League | 1 outfield player with long-term injury or illness | 6th round of league phase |
| Europa League | 1 outfield player with long-term injury or illness | 6th round of league phase |
| Conference League | 1 outfield player with long-term injury or illness | 6th round of league phase (end of main phase) |
Unresolved Criteria and Player Examples
While the amendment intends to address fairness and player welfare, UEFA has yet to clarify the precise requirements for deeming a player’s injury sufficiently serious to warrant a squad replacement. This lack of definition leaves uncertainty, especially in cases such as Liam Delap, who is currently contending with long-term knee problems. Questions remain about whether he, or similar cases, would qualify for a mid-tournament replacement under the updated rules.
