FIFA submits plan for 5 substitutions to aid with congested fixtures

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FIFA has proposed a temporary adjustment to rules that would permit teams to use up to five substitutions to help with congested fixtures once football resumes following the coronavirus-imposed hiatus.

The recommended rule change can be put into effect by organizers for competitions scheduled until the completion of the 2021 season.

FIFA has proposed the five substitutions be made in normal time and only used in three slots in addition to halftime. The introduction of a sixth substitute in added time is still being considered. The rule change would also apply to international football until Dec. 31, 2021.

Football’s rule-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), will still have to rule on FIFA’s proposal, and it will be up to the respective competitions to make the final call. BBC Sport reports the IFAB had already discussed the idea as a means of lessening the physical impact on players and is understood to be open to FIFA’s suggestion.

A FIFA spokesperson told BBC Sport that “health comes first” and no competition is “worth risking a single human life.”

“Football should only resume when the health authorities and governments say it is absolutely safe and non-disruptive of health services being delivered to the populations,” the spokesperson continued.

With many domestic leagues in Europe hoping to complete their respective campaigns by the end of the summer, compacted schedules could put the players’ health at risk.

“Safety of the players is one of FIFA’s main priorities. One concern in this regard is that the higher-than-normal frequency of matches may increase the risk of potential injuries due to a resulting player overload,” the spokesperson added.