Premier League confirm major rule change affecting Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham and Palace

The boards of all 20 clubs in the top flight discussed whether to allow two extra substitutions in the league.
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The Premier League has confirmed that it will change its stance on substitutes and allow five in a game from next season.

A stakeholders meeting took place on Thursday 31 March 2022 with a number of clubs voting to change the rule and allow up to five substitutions per game.

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Teams have previously voted against this change on several occasions in the past two years but a U-turn has been made and as of the 2022/23 season, five substitutions will be allowed with nine players allowed to be listed as substitutes.

A change from three to five substitutions isn’t a new aspect to the Premier League, with the rule being introduced during the restart of the competition due to the Covid pandemic.

A statement from the Premier League announced: “Premier League shareholders met today and discussed a range of matters.

“Clubs agreed to change the rules relating to substitute players, From next season, clubs will be permitted to use five substitutions, to be made on three occasions during a match, with an additional opportunity at half-time.

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“A total of nine substitutes can be named on the team sheet.

“It was also confirmed that the Summer 2022 Transfer Window will open on 10 June 2022 and will close at 23.00 BST on 1 September in line with other European leagues.

“In addition, the Premier League has today updated its remaining Covid-19 measures.

“From 4 April, the League will remove twice-weekly Covid-19 testing of players and staff and move to symptomatic testing only. Other key updates include the removal of the requirement for clinical passports to access previously restricted areas at training grounds on match days as the Premier League returns to business-as-usual operations.

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“The well-being of players and staff remains a priority and the Premier League will continue to monitor the national Covid-19 situation and adapt league-wide protocols as required, in line with the latest guidance from public health authorities and medical experts.”

The Premier League was the only major competition to revert back to a three substitute rule at the beginning of this season, with it believed that those teams with bigger squads would ‘favour’ from a five-substitute rule.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have expressed their support for the rule change, especially with members of their squad playing a significant number of games for club and country.

The former, when discussing the potential rule change in December said: “The decision needs 14 votes to change it and that’s something wrong.

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“What we realised again in the managers meeting – and we know it has always been like that – is how 14 clubs make the decision to change.

“We have to put competition aside.”

Klopp believes increasing the number of substitutes allowed in a league game is the ‘right decision’ but due to the change being rejected several times in the past, a future vote may be ‘difficult’.

Klopp thinks the rule change would be the ‘right decision’. Credit: Getty. Klopp thinks the rule change would be the ‘right decision’. Credit: Getty.
Klopp thinks the rule change would be the ‘right decision’. Credit: Getty.

“[Five substitutes] is the right decision, especially in this moment, because you bring players back in this moment, after COVID infection or an injury, and because of the games they have to play you risk injury and they have to go out again, maybe after 60 minutes,” he added.

“That is a real problem. This wonderful game is so wonderful because usually the players on the pitch are in good shape, are well trained, are well recovered and go for it.

“That is why we love the game. Now the situation is much more difficult.”