Federico Chiesa could yet be handed a Champions League lifeline thanks to new UEFA rule
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UEFA has introduced a significant rule change for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League allowing clubs to temporarily replace an outfield player in case of long-term injury or illness during the league phase, up to and including matchday 6. This update aims to prevent teams from being unfairly weakened by injuries and to protect remaining players from excess workload complications. Previously, once squad lists were submitted, clubs could not replace players unless under exceptional circumstances, forcing managers to omit talented signees like Liverpool's Federico Chiesa and Tottenham's Mathys Tel from their Champions League squads. The new amendment grants these clubs increased flexibility to manage their squads amid injury crises, potentially allowing sidelined players to return if replacements are made temporarily[1][3][5].
For context, the Champions League has switched to a new competition format starting the 2024/25 season. The format features a single league table of 36 teams instead of traditional groups, where each club plays eight matches against different opponents. The top eight teams directly qualify for the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th compete in two-legged knockout playoffs for the remaining eight spots in the last 16. Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated outright. This structure aims to increase competition intensity and ensure more matches for each club during the group phase[2][4].
The combination of the new tournament format and the squad replacement rule reflects UEFA’s response to club demands for more games, increased financial rewards, and greater squad management flexibility. Squad sizes remain capped at 25 players with quotas for homegrown talent, but the allowance of a single temporary replacement could ease managers’ challenges in balancing player fitness and team competitiveness across Europe’s elite club competition[1][3][5].
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