UEFA to scrap cup-tied rule from next season

As it is wont to do, today UEFA made a good move for a kinda dumb reason. The good move, unfortunately not in effect until next season, is that they have scrapped the “cup-tied” rule, under which a player could not play for two teams in the same competition. This clearly would have helped Arsenal this season and allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to play in the Europa League (and allowed Phillipe Coutinho to play for Barcelona in the Champions League), but it’s still a welcome move overall.

The reasoning they gave, though? Kinda stupid. In their statement, they said

This is in line with the existing regulatory situation in the different domestic leagues, which does not impose restrictions on the eligibility for competitions of players registered for a new club during the winter transfer window

Well, uh, ok? Except that domestic cup competitions very much do have this rule in place, and that domestic cup competitions and leagues are different things. But, whatever. I’m glad the rule is gone from UEFA competitions, it’s just too bad it couldn’t be gone this season instead.