Arsenal: Sporting CP star avoids Champions League ban as UEFA make correction amid yellow card confusion | OneFootball

Big boost for Sporting CP ahead of second leg next week

UEFA have confirmed that Sporting CP striker Luis Javier Suarez WILL be available to face Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.

The 28-year-old appeared to have been shown a yellow card in the first half against Arsenal on Tuesday night, which would have resulted in the striker serving a one-match ban at the Emirates Stadium next week.

In the 32nd minute a UEFA graphic flashed on the screen, confirming a booking for Suarez and that he would miss Sporting’s next match.

However, amid confusion as to when the Colombia international was shown a yellow card, UEFA swiftly cleared up the situation by revealing Suarez was not the Sporting player booked.

Instead it was midfielder Hidemasa Morita, who was not in danger of a suspension before kick-off, thus clearing Suarez to be available for selection in the second leg.

Sporting head to north London next Wednesday needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit after Kai Havertz struck in stoppage time to hand Arsenal the advantage.

It was the first time Sporting had failed to win at home in the Champions League this season, but Maximiliano Araujo is confident his side can turn the tie around at the Emirates.

He said: “We know it’s going to be very difficult, but we had plenty of chances today too.

“It’ll be even tougher [in London], but that’s football, and we’ll have to put in a great performance without making any mistakes if we’re to turn this around."