EURO 2024 is into the semi-final stage but a couple of top stars are set to miss out on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
That’s because they picked up too many yellow card offences and are now banned from playing.
However, a quirk in the rule book means that NO players will miss the final if they are booked in previous rounds.
Yellow cards are inevitable in every major competition and Dani Carvajal will miss the Euro 2024 after what fans called a “genius” second yellow in the quarter-final win over Germany.
No players will miss the final because of a yellow card they pick up in the semi or earlier in the tournament.
Bookings that took place in earlier rounds of Euro 2024 have now been WIPED CLEAN.
That means a player who had been at risk of missing the semi-final – Harry Kane, for example – will NOT be banned from playing in the final if he earns another yellow card.
However, players such as Robin Le Normand will miss Spain‘s semi-final with France having accumulated too many yellows in earlier rounds.
Players CAN still miss the final through a suspension, but only if they receive a red card during the semi.
Uefa’s Article 54 states: “Cautions that have not resulted in a suspension expire on completion of the qualifying group stage. They are not carried forward to the play-offs nor the final tournament.
“Cautions from the play-off matches that have not resulted in a suspension expire on completion of the play-offs. They are not carried forward to the final tournament.
“Pending yellow-card suspensions from either the group stage or the play-offs expire on completion of the qualifying competition. They are not carried forward to the final tournament.
“Cautions from matches in the final tournament that have not resulted in a suspension expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals.
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“Cautions and pending yellow-card suspensions from the final tournament expire at the end of the competition.”
Repeat cautions during the Euro 2024 finals in Germany had lead to a one-match suspension.
That takes place after two consecutive bookings or after the fourth yellow card.
Uefa rules also dictate: “In case of repeated cautions:
“In the qualifying competition, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, as well as after the fifth and any subsequent caution;
“In the final tournament, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after two cautions, as well as after the fourth caution.”
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has something of defensive crisis with right-back Dani Carvajal and centre-back Robin Le Normand both missing with suspension.
Kylian Mbappe has endured a poor tournament, scoring just once and being limited while playing in a mask, but must be relishing the prospect of facing Jesus Navas.
The former Man City winger, 38, is likely to be Carvajal’s replacement on the right.
Former Real Madrid captain Nacho will replace Le Normand alongside Aymeric Laporte.
None of the other teams have any players missing – meaning Gareth Southgate will have a full squad to choose from in the match against the Netherlands.
England stars Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Kobbie Mainoo, Kieran Trippier and Conor Gallagher all managed to avoid another yellow card.
