General
cup-tied
What does cup-tied mean?
When a player cannot feature for a new club in a cup competition because they already appeared in it for a previous club that season.
"The new signing is cup-tied and can't play in the semi-final."
Origin
Football administrative slang; 'tied' to one club for that cup.
Frequently asked questions
What does cup-tied mean?
A player is cup-tied when they've already played in a cup competition for one club that season, which bars them from featuring in the same competition for a new club after transferring.
Why do players get cup-tied?
Competition rules stop a player representing two different clubs in the same cup within a single season, so a mid-season signing who already played that cup elsewhere is ineligible for their new club in it.
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