According to reports, several key Barcelona players have reached the Champions League semifinals with a tally that, if they receive even one yellow card in the two legs against Inter Milan, would see them suspended and miss the final. The question on Barcelona fans’ minds is whether this will happen or if, in the Champions League, yellow cards are reset before the final, ensuring no player misses out for this reason.

However, a review of UEFA’s Champions League regulations shows that Barcelona fans’ concerns are unfounded. No player will be suspended from the final due to the number of yellow cards received during the tournament. UEFA’s regulations explicitly state that the Champions League final is exempt from the general rule on yellow card suspensions. UEFA wants the Champions League final to be the pinnacle of club competitions and has no interest in preventing big stars from participating.

This is in contrast to other stages of the Champions League, where any player who receives three yellow cards is automatically suspended. Beyond that, further disciplinary measures are taken for each additional booking. Yellow cards from the group stage carry over to the knockout stages and even the semifinals, which is why coaches try to avoid fielding key players in matches where they risk receiving another yellow card and suspension.

Interestingly, yellow cards are not reset at the end of the semifinals but rather after the quarterfinals. This means that all players start the semifinals with a clean slate. Therefore, even if a player receives two yellow cards (non-consecutively) in the semifinals, they will not be suspended for the final. The only scenario that can prevent a player from participating in the final is being sent off in the semifinals.