UEFA's Paragraph 16.03 means Arsenal cannot be drawn away to Slavia Praha in next season's Champions League. The rule does not end the pairing, but it does stop the same home fixture from being repeated for three consecutive campaigns.
Paragraph 16.03 and Arsenal's draw
The detail that matters is straightforward enough. UEFA's Club Competitions Committee said the same fixture between the same two teams may not be repeated in the competition with the same home team for three straight seasons.
That is why Arsenal's return trip to Prague has been ruled out. Arsenal beat Slavia Praha 3-0 last November, and if they were paired again with Slavia as the away side in 2026/27, it would breach the regulation.
Arsenal's own 2025 Champions League run also shows why the restriction is more about scheduling than sporting punishment. They won all 8 matches and scored 23 goals across those games.
Other repeat fixtures UEFA blocked
The same rule also affected other familiar pairings. Inter were protected from being drawn away again after facing the same opponent in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, while Liverpool were denied the chance to host Real Madrid again at Anfield.
UEFA administration has said it can adapt draw conditions to avoid deadlock situations and take account of relevant constraints. For Arsenal, though, the practical point is the one above: Slavia Praha away is off the table next season, even if the clubs can still be matched in the league phase with the venue flipped.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
