Kings Kangwa Faces Eligibility Ban Against Hapoel Be'er Sheva Due to UEFA Rules

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is in advanced negotiations to sign midfielder Kings Kangwa from AEK Athens. However, a UEFA regulation could prevent Kangwa from playing for Be'er Sheva against AEK if they meet in the Champions League playoff round. According to UEFA's Article 30.05, a player who participates in Champions League qualifying matches for one club cannot represent another club in the same competition during the same season. This rule applies only within the same tournament and does not extend to the Europa League if a team drops down from the Champions League qualifiers.

AEK Athens has invested heavily this summer, signing two players for 4 million euros each and spending a total of 16.45 million euros last season. The club will start its European campaign in the Champions League playoff round, guaranteeing at least Europa League participation and approximately 5 million euros in revenue. If AEK advances to the Champions League group stage, the financial rewards will be significantly higher. It remains unclear whether AEK will be seeded in the playoff round.

If Kangwa plays for Be'er Sheva in the upcoming Champions League qualifiers, he will be ineligible to face AEK in the playoffs due to UEFA's regulations. This situation could influence Be'er Sheva's strategy regarding his participation in the upcoming match against Vikingur on Tuesday, which might determine his eligibility for future rounds against AEK.