UEFA Confirmation: All nations permitted to nominate three additional outfielders for Euros
UEFA confirmed widespread rule changes for this summer's coming European Championship on Tuesday evening.
With most German football enthusiasts still pining to see Bundestrainer Joachim Löw reinstate three particular players on the national team, it may be considered a case of unintentional irony that he will be permitted three more selections.
What had been speculated upon now for some months is now official. European football's governing body confirmed on Tuesday evening that the 24 national team trainers prepared for this summer's delayed Euros may select 26 players for their tournament squads. As usual, three of the players selected must be keepers. The change still allows for head-coaches to select three additional outfielders, up from the standard base of 20.
With most German football enthusiasts still pining to see Bundestrainer Joachim Löw reinstate three particular players on the national team, it may be considered a case of unintentional irony that he will be permitted three more selections.
UEFA set further regulations ahead of the pan-European competition set to begin on June 11th. Head-coaches may still only field a maximum of 23 players (including three keepers) for any particular match. Taking into account the possibility of COVID outbreaks within a team, a minimum of 13 available players (including at least one keeper) must be registered for each match. In the event that this minimum quota of players cannot be reached, a postponement of 48 hours can be filed for. Teams responsible for cancellations will still forfeit fixtures 0-3.
The official extension of the number of substitutions allowed to five per fixture had already been announced in late March. On Tuesday, UEFA also noted that, in contrast to previous international tournaments, players who must withdraw with either positive tests, precautionary contact tracing quarantine, or even injury can remain eligible throughout the tournament if replacements are not nominated. Keepers may be re-registered even if replacements are nominated.
Some countries will begin naming their preliminary squads in a few short days. All nations must submit their final squads by June 1st, 2021.