THE Football League have informed clubs they are now allowed to make FIVE substitutions in all games for the rest of the 2020-21 season.
The EFL has revealed they have been locked in talks with Championship, League One and League Two clubs in recent days.
EFL clubs are now allowed to make five subs for the rest of the 2020-21 seasonCredit: Rex Features
And now they have agreed to allow managers five subs per game in a bid to limit player injury.
In the Championship, clubs are now allowed to name NINE players on the bench.
In Leagues One and Two, bosses are allowed to name just seven subs in their match-day squad.
An EFL statement read: “Following consultation with clubs, the EFL Board has agreed to increase the permitted number of substitutes to five in all Sky Bet EFL.
“[The new rule will begin in] fixtures taking place from 12pm on Friday November 20 for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
“Regulation 33.4 has been amended to permit:
- Championship Clubs to name up to nine substitutes in their matchday squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch in any fixture.
- League One and League Two Clubs to name up to seven substitutes in their matchday squad, again with five permitted to take to the pitch.”
In June, the Premier League revealed they would allow clubs to name nine subs on the bench and introduce up to five per game in three groups.
The rule remained in place until the end of the delayed 2019-20 season.
But for 2020-21, the Premier League forced clubs to return to the three-sub rule, with just seven named on the bench.
The Big Six – Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and the Manchester giants – were frustrated in August when they were outvoted.
All-in-all, 11 clubs voted for just three subs, while nine were in favour of the five-sub rule.
There has been an outcry from bosses and pundits alike following a spate of injuries in recent weeks, with some teams forced to play up to three times per week.
Liverpool have been hit the hardest, with nine first-team players – including their entire first-choice back-four – all injured.
Premier League bosses may now be forced to re-think their strategy.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
