Fans are calling for an immediate rule change at the Euros after claims the 2024 semi-finals have been ‘ruined’

Fans want to see a rule change after what has happened at Euro 2024.

Fans are calling for a rule change after arguing that one thing is going to ruin the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

On Friday and Saturday four teams booked their places in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, setting up two mouth-watering clashes.

On Tuesday Spain and France will clash in Munich, with the Spaniards now the bookies’ favourite to win the tournament.

 

The following evening, England will meet the Netherlands in the second semi-final in Dortmund.

Gareth Southgate’s side have failed to impress in Germany, but on Saturday they showed resilience and nerve by beating Switzerland on penalties.

England scored all-five of their spot-kicks while Jordan Pickford saved one, before the Netherlands beat Turkey to set up the semi-final showdown.

 

From a disciplinary standpoint, England did well to avoid picking up any costly bookings that would have ruled key players out of the semi-final.

Unlike at previous tournaments, yellow cards are not wiped until after the semi-finals, meaning that two bookings in two separate games results in a one-match suspension.

Heading in to the quarter-final, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Kobbie Mainoo and Kieran Trippier were all one yellow card away from suspension.

Fortunately none of them incurred the wrath of referee Daniele Orsato, with Harry Kane the only England player to receive a caution.

Referee shows Kobbie Mainoo a yellow card. Image: Getty
Referee shows Kobbie Mainoo a yellow card. Image: Getty

Bellingham was handed a one-match suspended ban following the crotch-grabbing gesture he made after scoring against Slovakia in the round-of-16.

 

However, fellow semi-finalists Spain weren’t so lucky. Luis de la Fuente will be unable to call upon Alvaro Morata, Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal for their clash with France due to suspension.

Now fans are calling for the harsh suspension rule to be changed.

“Two yellows in five games should not constitute a ban. It’s stupid,” one fan wrote on X.

Another commented: “Players should not be missing semi finals because they’ve had 2 yellow cards in 5 games at a major tournament. Ridiculous rule.”

 

A third angry fan wrote: “this yellow card rule is stupid. I thought they reset the count after the group stages, is that not a thing any more?”

Yellow cards reset for the semi-finals, meaning players will only miss the final if they are sent off in the semi-finals.