The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has approved a new rule for the upcoming 2025-26 men's club competitions, allowing teams to temporarily replace one outfield player suffering from a long-term injury or illness during the league phase.
The decision aims to provide relief to clubs struggling with the increased fixture congestion brought on by expanded tournament formats, said the UEFA in a statement published on its website.
The rule, approved by the UEFA Executive Committee in Tirana, Albania on Thursday, allows for a single player replacement to be registered for the league phase of the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League, the statement said.
This can be done up to and including Matchday 6 of the competition, the statement said.
The change comes after a season of heightened concern from top clubs and footballers over the tight schedule. Both UEFA and FIFA have recently expanded their flagship tournaments, with the UEFA Champions League adopting a new 36-team league format and the FIFA Club World Cup growing to 32 teams. Players, clubs, and football federations have long warned that this increase in matches would lead to more frequent injuries due to a lack of sufficient rest.
These fears materialized during the 2024-25 season, as several European giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester City, grappled with a high number of player injuries. The constant rotation and absence of key players like Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid and Rodri at City highlighted the intense physical toll on squads, sparking a renewed push for action from governing bodies.
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While UEFA is not returning to the previous format, the new rule is seen as a direct response to these issues. In the statement on Thursday, the governing body explained its reasoning for the amendment.
“The reason for this adjustment is to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and that players are protected from additional workload pressure,” UEFA said.
The new rule provides a crucial lifeline for clubs that suffer a serious injury early in the season, allowing them to bring in a replacement rather than being forced to compete with a depleted squad.
The specific definition of a “long-term injury” has not yet been detailed, but the amendment signals a shift in focus for UEFA toward mitigating the impact of its new tournament structure on player welfare.