According to BBC Sport, Premier League clubs today voted against continuing to allow five substitutions in a match next season.
Due to the unique circumstances as a result of the pandemic, FIFA approved federations to allow managers to name nine substitutes on the bench and make five changes per match. Federations have been allowed to keep the rule in place until August 2021 if they so desire.
However, the Premier League clubs have voted against continuing the rule next season, which means that we will see teams reverting back to naming seven substitutes on the bench and making three changes per match.
The report claims that many clubs saw the rule as being unfairly beneficial to the bigger clubs.
Additionally, it has also been revealed that the clubs approved the implementation of VAR, in line with the full FIFA VAR protocol, after FIFA took control of the administration of VAR from the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Among the proposed changes include an increase in the use of pitchside monitors from referees for goals, red cards, and penalty kicks.
VAR will also intervene and ask for a penalty kick to be retaken if the goalkeeper is off his line too early (if the goalkeeper saves the kick) or if the defender encroaches into the penalty area too early (and influences play).
Spurs Web Opinion:
While one could justify allowing five substitutes per match after the restart to avoid fatigue and injuries, I am not sure you can make a case for the rule continuing next season. It unfairly favours sides with bigger squads and I am not surprised the proposal was voted down. This change also potentially impacts Tottenham’s transfer policy as Mourinho might have wanted more attacking options on the bench if the rule were to stay on for next season. The increased use of pitch-side monitors from referees is also a step in the right direction.
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