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Keane's inspirational performance against Juventus guided United to the 1999 Champions League final -- but he missed out because of a second yellow card. EMPICS Sport

UEFA changes the rule that saw Roy Keane miss the 1999 Champions League final

Bookings will no longer be carried forward to the semi-finals of the Champions League and Europa League, UEFA said.

PLAYERS ON A yellow card will have the slate wiped clean after the quarter-finals of the Champions League and Europa League following a change in UEFA’s rules.

The new rule, which comes into effect immediately, prevents a repeat of the scenario which saw Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Xabi Alonso and other high-profile names suspended for Champions League finals.

“As of this season, all yellow cards from the beginning of the group stage will expire on completion of the quarter-finals,” UEFA said yesterday.

“Bookings will therefore not be carried forward to the semi-finals,” it added.

Previously, players who picked up yellow cards went into semi-final matches knowing one more booking would see them suspended for a possible final.

Keane and Scholes famously missed Manchester United’s 1999 Champions League win after picking up bookings in the semi-final second leg and the same rule also kept Real Madrid’s Alonso out of this year’s final.

The decision was made by UEFA’s emergency panel, given that the 2014-2015 Champions League and Europa League are already under way.

– Additional reporting by AFP

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