“Cup-tied”

Definition

A player who cannot play in a cup competition for his new club because he already appeared in that same competition for his old one this season. He is locked out until next year.

Origin

The rule stops rich clubs buying their way through a knockout run mid-competition. “Tied” is the old legal sense of bound to something, the same root as being tied to a contract.

Used in a sentence

“Chelsea signed him on transfer deadline day, but he had already played for his old club in the first round of the Carabao Cup, so he is cup-tied and stuck in the stands for this competition until next season.”