Rice suspension – The facts

Declan Rice WILL be suspended for the Europa League semi-final if he is shown a yellow card during tonight’s huge clash with Lyon and the Hammers win.

A report from WestHamFans.org insisted that this wasn’t the case earlier this week but, to put it plainly, they’ve got it wrong.

The piece reads: “According to UEFA rules, yellow cards that are outstanding are written off after the quarter final.”

This isn’t correct.

If Rice doesn’t get booked against Lyon, his yellows would then be written off, but if he is booked, he will be out of the semi-final if we reach it.

UEFA has confirmed as much in their pre-match press pack, placing an asterisk next to Rice’s name, meaning he remains at risk of suspension.

Barcelona or Eintracht Frankfurt lie in wait for the winner of the quarter-final; the first leg there also ended in a 1-1 draw.

It’s all to play for on Thursday night!