Five-sub rule to be written into Laws of the Game: Ifab
Lawmakers to discuss implementation of semi-automated offside today
Monday, 13 June 2022
DOHA, June 12 (Agencies): 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 (June 13), 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 organising 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 01.
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 (VAR) technology.
Meanwhile, a semi-automated offside system could be used at this year's World Cup with the International Football Association Board, the guardian of the laws of the game, set to discuss the introduction of the technology in Doha on Monday.
The optical tracking system was trialled at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and had also been tested at the Arab Cup in Qatar last December.
The IFAB will not itself decide whether the technology should be in place at the World Cup but if it offers approval then world football's governing body could go ahead with its introduction.