Five Substitutes To Be Allowed Next Season, IFAB Announces

IFAB: “The impact on player welfare is likely to continue into 2021”; each competition can decide whether they want to use additional substitutes next season

However, each competition will be free to decide whether they want to use the additional substitutes next season.

The Premier League, EFL and SPFL are yet to decide whether they will allow five substitutes from next season, while the FA have not confirmed the extension will also apply in FA Cup ties next season.

Premier League clubs are due to meet on July 24 and could discuss the matter then. The EFL is expected to consult clubs at the end of the season and the Scottish Football Association’s Annual General Meeting takes place on July 22.

The measure, designed to help manage player workloads in seasons affected by the coronavirus pandemic, initially covered competitions finishing in 2020.

The directors of the IFAB have now extended the amendment to the laws of the game to cover league competitions ending on or before July 31 2021, and to international competitions scheduled for July and August of the same year.

A statement from IFAB said: “Following the decision taken on 8 May 2020 to give competitions scheduled to be completed in 2020 the option of allowing teams to use up to five substitutes, the IFAB Board of Directors had agreed to review whether to extend this option further.

“On the basis of this in-depth review based on stakeholder feedback and analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on competition calendars, the IFAB Board of Directors has approved to extend the option to competitions scheduled to be completed by 31 July 2021 and international competitions scheduled in July/August 2021.

“The main reason for the temporary amendment to Law 3 – The Players was the impact on player welfare of competitions being played in a condensed period and in different weather conditions.

The recent review has shown that the reasons for the temporary amendment remain valid and the impact on player welfare is likely to continue into 2021.”