Denise O'Sullivan, the Glasgow City striker, will miss her side's next Champions League match after picking up a second yellow card in the 2-0 win over FC Twente on Tuesday.
The suspension has angered the Scottish champions, who believe that bookings in a qualifying tournament should not be carried forward into the Champions League proper.
"It puts you at a disadvantage straight away," pointed out Eddie Wolecki Black, the City head coach. "The 22 teams that have qualified automatically can't have a player suspended, so why should the 10 teams who have had to fight their way through three group games be penalised further?
"It's more ridiculous because the cards were very soft. The first was for not retreating quickly enough at a free kick, and the second when the ball hit her arm accidentally; but you can't appeal yellow cards."
City will not know their last-32 opponents until the September 5 draw but, having reached this stage for a third successive season, Wolecki Black believes that his side are now well equipped to do well in the tournament. Like captain Rachel Corsie, he considers Tuesday's win City's best in Europe.
"Beating Valur in Iceland two years ago after we had been held to a draw at home in the first leg was a great performance," he said. "But Twente are as good, if not better. There were almost 3000 fans, some with drums, supporting them but our players showed real application. They dug in, worked hard and silenced their supporters.
"We finished top of a group which included the top seeds in pot two and the top seeds in pot three. Our players made a difficult group look easier than it was - and I'm not convinced people know just how good a result it was against Twente."
There was consolation for the Dutch hosts after they squeezed into the last 32 themselves with one of two runner-up spots. They will also have to play their first knock-out game without one of their most influential players; Sherida Spitse also received her second yellow card in Tuesday's game.
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