FC Bayern fans are always thrilled when the Bavarians are in Champions League action, so changes regarding the competition are highly interesting. UEFA has refined the regulations for the Champions League, the Europa League and the Super Cup. fcbayern.com explains the changes from the 2018/19 season onwards.
Changes in the UEFA club competitions
Substitutions and squad
- From the 2018/19 season, a fourth player may come on as a sub in knock-out matches, but only during extra time. This will not affect the other three substitutions.
- With regard to the UEFA Champions League final, the UEFA Europa League final and the UEFA Super Cup, 23 players (instead of 18 for all other matches) may be included on the match sheet. 12 subsitututes (instead of seven) may sit on the bench in the finals.
- Regarding the registration of players after the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, a club may register three new eligible players without any restrictions. This is in line with the existing regulatory situation in the different domestic leagues, which does not impose restrictions on the eligibility for competitions of players registered for a new club during the winter transfer window.
Kick-off times
- UEFA Champions League play-offs, group-stage games, round of 16 matches, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final will kick off at 21.00 CET. However, on every group-stage matchday, two of the Tuesday and two of the Wednesday matches will kick off at 18.55 CET. All fixtures on the last matchday will be played simultaneously. Exceptions to this rule can be made by the UEFA administration.
- UEFA Europa League matches from the group stage until round of 16 matches will kick off at 18.55 and 21.00 CET. The kick-off times will be decided in accordance with the draw. In principle, games within a group will be played simultaneously on the last matchday. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all kick off at 21.00 CET. Exceptions can be made by the UEFA administration.
- The UEFA Super Cup will kick off at 21.00 CET. This already applies to the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, which will be played at Tallinn's Lilleküla Stadium in Estonia on 15 August.
Badges
- As was already the case in the UEFA Champions League, as of the 2018/19 season, teams which have won the UEFA Europa League (or previously the UEFA Cup) three consecutive times or a minimum of five times may also wear a multiple-winner badge on the shirt sleeve. The only team entitled to wear this badge next season would be FC Bayern's next Champions League opponents Sevilla, who have won the competition five times (in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2016).
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