UEFA allows temporary Champions League squad replacements until matchday six
New rule could let players omitted from 25-man lists — including Federico Chiesa and Mathys Tel — be registered earlier; committee also confirms 2027 final venues and delays decision on overseas domestic fixtures
UEFA has introduced a temporary amendment to Champions League squad rules that allows clubs to name a replacement for an outfield player who suffers a long-term injury or illness, a change that could enable stars left out of initial 25-man lists to play before the knockout phase.
The rule, agreed by UEFA’s executive committee at a meeting in the Albanian capital on Thursday, will be in force until the competition’s sixth matchday — the same point at which the UEFA Conference League concludes. Until now, players excluded from the 25-man lists submitted at the start of the group stage could not appear for their clubs in the competition until the knockout rounds after Christmas.
Clubs affected by the change include several high-profile Premier League sides that named 25-man Champions League squads last week. Tottenham Hotspur left out new signing Mathys Tel, who subsequently said being omitted "definitely hurt." Liverpool did not include Federico Chiesa, a decision described by some supporters as "cruel." Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea also made notable exclusions, with Gabriel Jesus not securing a spot in Arsenal’s list and Facundo Buononotte omitted by Chelsea.
Under the amendment, a club could apply to register a temporary replacement if an outfield player is sidelined for a prolonged period due to injury or illness. UEFA said the adaptation aims "to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and players are safeguarded from additional workload pressure." The governing body said the measure is designed to protect both clubs and players amid congested schedules.
Also confirmed at the meeting was the host venue for the 2027 men’s Champions League final. UEFA named Atletico Madrid’s Riyadh Air Metropolitan stadium as the site for the showpiece match. That venue previously staged the 2019 final, when Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur.
The committee announced hosting arrangements for several other events. Warsaw’s National Stadium in Poland will stage the 2027 Women’s Champions League final. Austria’s Salzburg was selected for the 2026 Super Cup; Pesaro in Italy will host the 2026 Futsal Champions League final; Astana in Kazakhstan will hold the Futsal Under-19 European Championship; and Osijek in Croatia will host the Women’s Futsal Euros.
UEFA said it also considered proposals to allow domestic league matches to be played outside their home countries but decided to delay any final ruling. The committee referenced applications from LaLiga and Serie A to stage fixtures overseas, including a LaLiga proposal to stage Barcelona’s December match against Villarreal in Miami and an application for AC Milan’s league match against Como to be played in Perth, Australia.
Officials said they would "undertake a round of consultation with all stakeholders in European football — including fans — prior to make a final decision." Fan groups have expressed strong opposition to staging domestic league fixtures abroad, likening the proposals to governance controversies that followed the 2021 European Super League plans.
The executive committee emphasized the need to balance commercial opportunities with the interests of supporters and the integrity of national competitions. UEFA said the issue is "important and growing" and that it must consider views from clubs, leagues, broadcasters and fan organisations before taking further steps.
The temporary squad amendment takes immediate effect and will be monitored alongside other calendar and competition-management measures as UEFA prepares its calendar and event hosts for the coming seasons.