UEFA suspension rules explained with Arsenal stars at risk of Champions League ban | OneFootball

Champions League yellow cards are not wiped until after the quarter-finals

Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard are walking the disciplinary tightrope for Arsenal’s Champions League decider against Bayer Leverkusen.

Though, it could have been much worse for the Gunners as they trailed for much of the second half to Robert Andrich’s header and required a last-gasp penalty from Kai Havertz - on his return to his former club - to avoid defeat.

Arsenal will now look to make home advantage count against Leverkusen in the second leg and set up a Champions League quarter-final tie against either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP.

However, Zubimendi and Norgaard are the two Arsenal players in immediate danger of missing a potential last-eight showdown as a booking for either player against Leverkusen would rule them out of the quarter-final first leg, if the Gunners progress.

As per UEFA’s ruling, ‘players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, which did not result in a red card, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.)’.

Norgaard, unlikely to start at the Emirates Stadium, was booked during league phase wins over Slavia Prague and Club Brugge.

Christian Norgaard is one yellow card way from an automatic ban in the Champions League

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Zubimendi, meanwhile, has already served a Champions League ban. After receiving yellow cards against Athletic Club, Olympiacos and Atletico Madrid - Arsenal’s first three games of the league phase - he missed the 3-0 win over Slavia Praha.

The Spaniard was booked, perhaps harshly in the second half against Leverkusen last week and is now one caution away from being booked five times in the Champions League this season.

As yellow cards in the Champions League are not reset until after the quarter-final stage, it means Zubimendi and Norgaard potentially have three more games to watch their step.

Declan Rice, who missed the final league phase fixture against Kairat through suspension, will be in the same boat as Zubimendi (one more away from five yellow cards) if booked against Leverkusen.

Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel, Havertz, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and Ben White are all on one yellow card heading into the Leverkusen decider.