Update: Europa League suspension rules explained for Man United vs Athletic Bilbao as Amorim gets double boost News

Manchester United reached the last four of the Europa League with a dramatic victory over Lyon on Thursday night.

Manchester United’s incredible comeback over Lyon on Thursday night secured their spot in the Europa League semi-finals.

The Reds went two up in the first half and, despite letting that lead slip as the tie went into extra-time after a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes and then shipping two more in extra time to trail 4-2, they rallied to progress in stunning fashion with a 5-4 Old Trafford victory.

The reward is a tie with Athletic Bilbao and a trip to Spain for the first leg on May 1 with the return in Manchester a week later. And Ruben Amorim has been handed a suspension boost ahead of the tie.

Europa League rules state that any player who amasses three yellow cards before the completion of the quarter-finals must serve a one-match ban.

A player who accumulates more than three yellow cards before the cut-off point will serve an additional one-match ban for every odd number of bookings they rack up (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc).

However, all yellow cards that have been accumulated in the competition are wiped out ahead of the start of the semi-finals, meaning every player involved in the last-four of the competition starts the round with a clean slate.

And that is good news for United who had Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro walking the disciplinary tightrope ahead of the second leg against Lyon. Both avoided a caution and the slate is wiped clean for the last four ties to ensure no-one can miss the final due to accumulated yellow cards.

The only way anyone can miss the final through suspension would be via a sending off, with red cards still carrying a ban.

The final takes place in Bilbao on May 21. United will hope to get past Athletic Bilbao to make the showpiece. Tottenham Hotspur take on Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt in the other last four tie.

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