Soccer substitution rules explained

Soccer substitution rules have garnered special attention from the watchers of this beautiful game in recent years. Earlier, the soccer governing body (FIFA) had some definite rules in this matter. But, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, the soccer leagues and tournaments decided to change substitution rules for soccer. From the numbers of players to be allowed to feature as substitutes to the number of players to be introduced in the extra time, everything about this law has changed. 

From Champions League to English Premier League, from La Liga to Bundesliga, these popular soccer leagues and tournaments have changed the soccer rules for substitutions occasionally in recent years. As a result, it has been difficult for the soccer fans to keep up. In this article, the soccer substitution rules have been thoroughly explained, so that the soccer enthusiasts can get a hold of the matter in the easiest way.

What is a substitution in soccer?

Substitution in soccer means when a team’s manager introduces a player from the bench to the game to replace an on-field player. According to the FIFA rulebook, a substitution can be made at any time of a game. 

The soccer managers generally tend to make a substitution at the beginning of the play of the second half. However, it also requires the permission of the on-field referee to substitute a player. Whenever the ball is off the field or there is a stoppage in play, a team can make substitution in soccer. 

The reasons behind the substitution in soccer vary according to the needs of the teams. Sometimes, the managers want to bring fresh legs onto the field to boost the pace of the game, while on several occasions, a substitution is made to execute a tactical switch. One more major reason behind a substitution is to replace an injured player, struggling to maintain the rhythm of the game.

Substitution rules in soccer were introduced in 1958 after the top management of the game realized that without substitutes, it was difficult for the eleven players from each side to continue to play for ninety minutes and extra time. Back then, the soccer players had to play despite being injured during the game. If any player failed to win over his injury at that time, then his team had to finish the match with one player less. In order to avoid this ruthless situation, rules were added to the laws of the game over the years. Every competition across the world has implemented the substitution rules to smoothen the proceedings of the games, reducing the work pressure of the players. 

Number of substitutions allowed in soccer

The soccer rule book used to state that a team could only make three substitutions during a game. But, the game of soccer witnessed a massive change in its laws, especially in substitution rules, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the whole world came to a halt, all soccer activities were also suspended. As a result, it was almost impossible for the clubs to play the postponed matches in a tight schedule, with demanding extra workload from the players. 

In this period of crisis, the governing bodies of this game decided to introduce five substitution rules to allow the players to take necessary rest. Since then, most of the recognized soccer tournaments have been allowing their teams to make five changes during a game. As they say, the five substitution rule is the new normal in soccer. 

Time of substitutions

There is no particular time mentioned in the FIFA rulebook regarding substitutions in a soccer game. A team can make a player substitution whenever they want. It is written in the laws that a player can be substituted not only in the 90 minutes of regular time, but also in the extra minutes of a game. However, a team gets only three times to make a maximum of five five substitutions during a soccer game.

The teams are allowed three windows to make their preferred substitutions. For instance, if a side makes one substitution any time in the first half, and another one in the second half, then they will be left with only one chance more to make substitutions in that particular game before the final whistle. In these three attempts, a coach can only bring on five new players. After a team makes five substitutions, they can not introduce any new player to the game anymore, even in the extra time. 

List of extra time substitution rules

• If a team do not make maximum number of substitutions in the regulation time, then they can substitute players in the extra time
• A team can make substitutions in the beginning of the extra-time or at the half-time of the extra time.
• Any team can make additional substitution in the extra time if the soccer competition allows it. 

Soccer tournament & leagues substitution rules

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on soccer and its rules. To tackle the humongous workload of the players, the elite soccer leagues welcomed the five substitution rules in games in 2020. And this rule is still being followed by many. 

Premier League

Due to the unusual timing of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, like other top leagues, the Premier League also had to stop its proceedings between November and December. In order to play the postponed games, the teams had to play two league games in the remainder of the season. As a result, there was a huge change in the substitution rules in the English top flight.

During Covid-19 pandemic, the soccer competition permitted all clubs to make five substitutions till the end of the 2020-21 season. But, a mid-season halt due to the 2022 World Cup forced the Premier League to continue its five-substitution policy to comply with players’ stamina and fitness. 

Champions League

The UEFA Champions League substitution rules are quite interesting as there are two stages. In the UCL group stages, all teams are allowed to make a maximum of five substitutions in a game. But, in knockout stages, the participating teams can make one additional substitution in extra time if that is a second-leg match. 

For example, if a team uses all five substitutions in the regulation period of a second leg match, then they will be allowed to substitute one more player in the extra time.

FIFA

FIFA substitution rules are very clear and these rules are used in all the global and continental soccer tournaments. FIFA rulebook states that a team can use five substitute players in a game and these substitutions must be done in three windows. 

MLS

The Major League Soccer (MLS) in America also follows the five substitution soccer rules. However, a team can select nine substitute players to sit on the bench while other eleven players play on the field. A coach can select five players from the nine reserved players as substitutions during a game. 

Concussion substitution rules

Many fans wonder whether soccer has any concussion substitution rule. Well, there is still no such rule in soccer. While many sports have introduced new rules to address head injuries on turf, soccer, despite being one of the progressive games on earth, fails to recognise the necessity of such an important rule, garnering widespread criticism from the fans and the players alike. In most of the modern day games, whenever a player is involved in a concussion incident, his team is allowed to bring in a new player to replace the injured one, even if they have used all their substitutions earlier.

After the five substitution rule was added in the law book of soccer, the talks have been taking place to write a new law regarding the on-field concussion in soccer, allowing the teams to not risk the health of their players in critical situations. But, there has been no progress in this matter. As things stand, if a player leaves the field after receiving a head injury and fails to come back onto the pitch, then his team will have to play with ten men for the remainder of the game. 

FAQs

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