AC Milan wonderkid Francesco Camarda banned from facing Newcastle in Champions League due to unusual UEFA rule
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AC Milan teenager Francesco Camarda will play no part in next month's Champions League clash with Newcastle United due to a strict UEFA rule.
The 15-year-old became the youngest Serie A player of all time on Saturday evening when he came on in a 1-0 win over Fiorentina.
Camarda replaced Luka Jovic with seven minutes to go and received a standing ovation from the San Siro crowd.
He impressed in a short cameo and supporters are keen to see more of the forward, who is said to have averaged around 5.5 goals per game at youth level.
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If you were hoping to see him get a taste of Champions League football during Milan's final Group F game against Newcastle, you're out of luck.
UEFA rules state a player can't debut in the Champions League under the age of 16 and without a professional contract.
Camarda doesn't turn 16 until March, so he's currently ineligible for European competition.
He's also currently serving a ban after getting sent off in a Youth League game with Paris Saint-Germain's U19s earlier this month.
Camarda did train with the first team before Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund but was not included in the squad.
Milan are currently bottom of the group, with their only win coming against PSG last month.
Goals from Marco Reus, Jamie Byone-Gittens and Karim Adeyemi were enough to seal qualification for Edin Terzic's side.
It means Milan now need to beat Newcastle to have any hope of qualifying for the last 16.
Manager Stefano Piolo told reporters post-match: "I think we lost it the moment we could’ve directed the game our way, on the penalty but also just a minute before their second goal when we could’ve gone 2-1 up on the counter-attack and didn’t finish it off.
"When you don’t score and then concede, that knocks the wind out of your sails. Obviously, losing [Malick] Thiaw also damaged our defensive balance. We should’ve defended better on those situations.
"We were also able to create chances at the other end, which we knew would happen.
"There were moments when we should’ve put the game on our side and instead the momentum shifted the other way when our opponents were more clinical, sharper and more prepared to take those chances.
"Naturally, when Dortmund have those wide open spaces to attack into, they become very dangerous."
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: AC Milan, Champions League, Newcastle United
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