Qarabag v Newcastle United: Eddie Howe’s side have several key players walking a suspension tightrope in the Champions League.
Newcastle United are back in Champions League action as they face Qarabag in the knockout round play-off first leg in Baku on Wednesday night (5:45pm kick-off GMT).
It’s the first knockout round match Newcastle have played in the Champions League having been knocked out in the group stage in 2023 and 1998 and the second group stage in 2003.
Newcastle will be hoping to put themselves in a strong position heading into next week’s second leg at St James’ Park as they look to reach the last-16 of the competition.
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UEFA rules set to ban NUFC stars in Champions League
Newcastle have three players at risk of a Champions League ban ahead of the Qarabag match.
Joelinton is just one booking away from a ban, having been booked in Newcastle’s opening two group phase matches. The Brazilian has avoided a booking in each of United’s last five Champions League matches, scoring in the 2-0 win over Athletic Club in November.
The midfielder has been out of action in recent weeks due to a groin injury and is a doubt for the Qarabag match.
Malick Thiaw is also at risk of a ban having received his second booking in the competition against Bayer Leverkusen. The German’s last-man challenge was initially awarded as a penalty, though VAR intervention awarded a free-kick instead as a potential red card was avoided.
Dan Burn is also one booking away from a suspension having been booked against Barcelona and Marseille.
The trio are at real risk of a ban given that the three yellow card threshold doesn’t expire at the end of the group phase but instead carries forward up until the quarter-final stage. It means they will have to go up to six games without a booking in order to avoid suspension.
Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Aaron Ramsdale, Joe Willock, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon are the only other Magpies players who have been shown a yellow card in the Champions League this season. Those players would have to be booked a further two times in order to face a ban.
Red card rules
The only exception is if they were to be shown a red card, as is the same with any player.
However, in the event of a serious offence, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body is entitled to augment this punishment, including by extending it to other competitions or increasing the length of the ban in the competition.
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