UEFA: No more suspensions for players in Champions League and Europa League finals

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UEFA have announced that they players will no longer miss the Champions League or Europa League final through suspension for the accumulation of yellow cards.

Players' booking will be wiped out after the quarter-final stages of European club competitions.

Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso was suspended for the Champions League final in May after picking up a third knockout phase booking in the second leg of his team's semi-final.

Missing: Paul Scholes and Roy Keane missed the 1999 Champions League final for Manchester United through suspension but players will no longer be banned for accumulating yellow cards throughout the tournament

Yellow cards: Suspended Xabi Alonso appeared on TV as a pundit during the 2014 Champions League final

Glory: Alonso celebrates after winning the trophy despite being suspended for accumulation of yellow cards

No more: Alonso (second left) is the last player to miss a Champions League final for yellow card accumulation

Famously, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane missed Manchester United 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

In a statement, UEFA said: '(Our) emergency panel decided that, as of this season, all yellow cards from the beginning of the group stage will expire on completion of the quarterfinals. Bookings will therefore not be carried forward to the semi-finals.'

The rule is already in force in the international area during the European Championships.

NOTABLE ABSENTEES FROM FINALS DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF CARDS

1999 - Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich

Roy Keane and Paul Scholes (Man Utd)

Suited: Paul Scholes and Roy Keane join Manchester United for their 1999 Champions League celebrations

2009 - Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United

Dani Alves (Barcelona)

2011 - Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United

Jose Pinto (Barcelona)

2012 - Chelsea 1-1 Bayern Munich (Chelsea win on penalties)

Branislav Ivanovic, Ramies and Raul Meireles (Chelsea); David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luis Gustavo (Bayern)

Tinged glory: Chelsea had four players suspended for the 2012 Champions League final - including three who had picked up three yellow cards in the knockout stages of the competition

2014 - Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (AET)

Xabi Alonso (Real)

Blow: Xabi Alonso missed the 2014 Champions League final for accumulating yellow cards

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