THE temporary five-substitute rule is set to be extended into next season.
Players will face increased risk of injury and burnout because matches will be squeezed into a compressed campaign ahead of the rescheduled European Championship.
Sean Dyche fears the five-sub rule’s continuance favours ‘big clubs’
The majority of clubs and leagues have been positive about the amendment to the regulations which also allows teams to name nine substitutes instead of the usual seven.
And Fifa and the game’s lawmaking body, the International Football Association Board, are open to the idea of prolonging the alteration in order to protect players.
At present, the five-substitution rule can be used in all competitions that have already started, or are due to start, and that will finish before December 31.
The Ifab would have to call another special meeting to approve an extension that would cover domestic league and cup competitions taking place in 2020-21.
The FA and Associations around the world may also lobby for the five-sub rule to apply to international football.
The current amendment is not compulsory – competitions are free to use it if they wish – and there are some who are not in favour of it.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche said: “I personally didn’t think it needed changing. It was pushed through from other clubs.
“There was a handful of us who thought it should be kept the same.
“Probably because it does give the upper hand to teams with bigger squads, quite obviously.
“They can make more changes, more often. We don’t run with a big squad and we’re certainly affected at the moment by various situations.
“But equally I felt the game should be left alone. It’s hard enough with everything we had to do, without changing the substitution situation.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
