FIFA wants to allow teams to make up to five substitutions per 90-minute game until the end of 2021 to ease the workload on players as football looks to restart amid the coronavirus crisis.
The suggestion from the world football governing body must be approved by the IFAB rule-making committee, a step which is considered likely.
FIFA confirmed the plan to dpa following a report in Britain's Sun newspaper, saying: ‘the higher-than-normal frequency of matches may increase the risk of potential injuries due to a resulting player overload.’
As ‘health comes first,’ the additional substitutes would be ‘temporarily allowed’ at the discretion of the competition organiser.
A sixth substitute would be permitted in extra-time.
The temporary rule would apply to all competitions scheduled to start or end in 2020 and all national team games to be played until December 31, 2021.
A restriction would apply, however, as the five substitutions would be allowable only at half-time or within a maximum of three slots while the game is being played.
Football has almost shutdown during the global pandemic with teams and federations considering if, how and when play can restart. (QNA)
