UEFA Rule Change Following Bowyer Ban "Mix-Up"

By Site Staff
June 3 2004

The row which saw Lee Bowyer miss 12 European games last season has led to a change in UEFA rules. In my eyes, this is a change for the better as it is fairer and more beneficial than the last.

The row which saw Lee Bowyer miss 12 European games last season has led to a change in UEFA rules. In my eyes, this is a change for the better as it is fairer and more beneficial than the last.

When Lee Bowyer departed Leeds United to come on Tyneside at the beginning of last term he already knew that he was banned for 6 European game and therefore United did not feel the need to register him for the early stages of the UEFA Cup.

Once his ban was over the real problem started to occur, though. UEFA stated that because Lee was not registered for the early stages, he had not missed any game that he would have been playing in and in turn he had not completed any of his ban. This meant he had to sit out six games yet again.

This season, though, UEFA have moved to clarify the rules. They have not attributed the rule change to Bowyer's situation but there is little doubt that his situation was the spark that led to the tweaking.

Bowyer is now looking forward to finally playing a key role in Europe for the Geordes.

"Last season was a nightmare for me as far as Europe was concerned and I cannot wait to have another crack at it next season," he said as he surveyed the campaign.

"In fact, when the draw is made, it won't worry me if we are playing in somewhere like Lithuania or some other far-flung place."