The Arsenal and PSG players banned for Champions League clash as UEFA suspension rules explained

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Thomas Partey of Arsenal won’t be available for the Champions League semi-final first leg versus PSG (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images).

UEFA’s suspension regulations have drawn considerable attention ahead of Arsenal’s semi-final matchup with PSG in the Champions League.

The French club is set to travel to Emirates Stadium for the opening leg on Tuesday, April 29. The second leg will follow a week later, on Wednesday, May 7, at the Parc des Princes.

Thomas Partey is one name who will miss the first leg. The energetic midfielder received his third yellow card of the tournament during Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Real Madrid, ruling him out of the Gunners’ initial meeting with PSG.

Per UEFA’s official regulations, Article 52.04 reads: “Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire on completion of the play-offs. They are not carried forward to the group stage. In addition, all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals.”

This indicates that if Partey had avoided a booking during the win in Spain, he would’ve been eligible for the first leg. Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, and Gabriel Martinelli also risked suspension in the clash with Los Blancos, but none of the three received a card.

Partey becomes the second Arsenal player to be banned in this season’s Champions League after collecting three yellows. Raheem Sterling received his third caution in the tournament during the tie with PSV in March and was consequently ruled out of the quarter-final opener against Madrid.

As Partey serves his suspension in the first leg later this month, PSG manager Luis Enrique faces no such disciplinary issues. Fabian Ruiz was the only PSG player who entered the quarter-final second leg versus Aston Villa carrying two yellow cards, but he steered clear of a booking. That allows Ruiz to be part of the lineup against the Gunners.

Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes have already served suspensions for PSG this Champions League campaign due to the accumulation of three yellow cards. Marquinhos sat out the quarter-final first leg against Villa, and Mendes missed the group-stage fixture with Stuttgart.

A positive update for both clubs is that, per UEFA regulations, a player cannot be suspended for the final based solely on yellow cards in the semi-finals. Only a red card or an ejection for violent behavior would result in a suspension for that match.

As for Arsenal and Partey, the Ghanaian will be available again for the second leg of the semi-final. On PSG’s side, barring any injuries or fitness issues, they will have a full-strength squad to select from.

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