The five-change rule was introduced after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to safeguard players’ physical condition and manage clubs’ often crowded schedules. Until now, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which governs the laws of the game, had granted an interim waiver. But this development will be long-term for competitions around the world, as revealed by The Athletic.
The measure will be adopted at the IFAB’s annual general meeting in early March. The body had already recommended that all competitions allow five substitutions. Only the Premier League decided not to use them in the 2020-2021 season and went back to three substitutions, which remains the case for the current season.
Offside law also discussed
The offside law will also be discussed at the March 3 meeting. In October, UEFA chief referee Roberto Rosetti said the law “needs to be improved” after Kylian Mbappé’s controversial goal in the Nations League final with France against Spain (2- 1).
Theo Hernandez’s pass had been touched by a Spanish player before being recovered by the PSG striker. But his goal had been granted according to a specific point of the IFAB rules. “A player in an offside position who receives a ball deliberately played by an opponent, including with the hand or arm, is not considered to be taking any advantage of his position, except in the case of a deliberate save by a opponent. »
