UEFA relax rules on cup-tied players in Champions League

London: UEFA relaxed its rules on players appearing for two teams in one season in the Champions and Europa Leagues.

The executive committee agreed that a player who appears for a club in any of the preliminary rounds of the Champions League or Europa League can play for another team in the competition proper as long as his original team is eliminated in the preliminary competition. "The rules have been relaxed regarding what the English call "cup-tied" players, that is players who have already played for one team in a competition in a season, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino told reporters."From next season, if a player`s club is eliminated and he signs for a new club by the end of the summer transfer window on September 1 he can play for his new club in either competition.” "If he is not signed by the end of the summer window, he can move in the January window."The one stipulation that remains is that clubs can add up to three new players in January, only one of whom will be eligible if they have previously played in the qualifying rounds. Bureau Report