Teams Permitted to Make 5 Substitutions Per Game as IFAB Changes Law for Returning Leagues
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has confirmed temporary rule changes as a result of the coronavirus that allows the use of five substitutes in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and any other competition intended to finish before 31 December 2020.
Any competition that has been making use of a VAR system has also been granted permission to stop using it, with the decision up to each individual competition.
The increase of substitutes in official competition from three to five is intended to protect player welfare given that games in many countries will be taking place in a shorter time-frame than normal, and across the hottest months of the year.
There is, however, a limit on how often teams can makes substitutions during a game in order to prevent unnecessary disruption to the game. That limit has been set at three, meaning any side looking to make use of all five substitutes will have to make two double substitutions.
A statement from IFAB read, “For competitions which have either started or are intended to start, but are scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2020, the IFAB has approved FIFA’s proposal to introduce a temporary amendment to Law 3 – The Players, which will allow for a maximum of five substitutes to be made per team. However, to avoid disruption to the game, each team will only have three opportunities to make substitutions; substitutions may also be made at half-time.
“The temporary amendment comes into force with immediate effect, and has been made as matches may be played in a condensed period in different weather conditions, both of which could have impacts on player welfare.
“The decision on whether to apply this temporary amendment will remain at the discretion of each individual competition organiser.
“The IFAB and FIFA will determine at a later stage whether this temporary amendment would need to be extended further (e.g. for competitions due to be completed in 2021).”
Meanwhile, the Spanish FA will reportedly outline its own regulations for the return of football, which - in addition to the use of five substitutions - will include two water breaks per game and the possibility to increase matchday squads from 18 to 23.
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