Doha
The use of five substitutes, introduced as a tweak to the rules because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be formally written into the Laws of the Game at a meeting in Doha on Monday, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) said .
Further discussions, and possible decisions, on concussion substitutes and semi-automated offside technology will also be on the agenda of governing body IFAB.
A maximum of five substitutes per team, instead of three, had been allowed since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.
It will now become permanent although its use in different competitions will remain at the discretion of the body organizing the matches.
The Premier League, for example, had allowed five substitutes when the idea was first floated by FIFA in May 2020 but reverted back to three subs for their last two seasons. They have, however, agreed to five substitutes being permitted from next season.
The IFAB said the five changes per team would continue to be allowed to be made in no more than three opportunities, excluding any changes made at half-time.A potential sixth substitution would be allowed if a match went into extra time. The IFAB’s changes will start from July 1.
The body, founded in 1886 to act as the guardians of the laws of the game, will also discuss concussion substitutes and semi-automated Video Assistant Referee technology. Trials of what IFAB termed additional permanent concussion substitutions started last year.
