Rule changed after Bowyer eligibility row

UEFA bosses have moved to clarify the disciplinary rules which saw Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer miss no fewer than 12 European matches through suspension last season.

Bowyer arrived at St James’ Park knowing he had six games to sit out after being punished for stamping on Malaga midfielder Gerardo in a UEFA Cup tie during his days at Leeds.

United, therefore, did not register him for the early rounds of the European campaign after, they insist, being told by the FA they did not need to.

However, when they thought he was eligible to play once again, UEFA revealed that because he had not been registered, his ban had not been completed and he had to do it all over again.

The latest rule book issued by the governing body now includes a new Rule 15.2, which states: “Only players that are duly registered with the UEFA Administration can serve pending disciplinary suspension.”

UEFA stopped short of attributing the new clause to Bowyer’s situation, but there is little doubt that his misfortune had a hand in the clarification. “This is a new rule and is to be considered as clarification to the existing regulations,” a UEFA spokesman said.