Club football is set to begin after the international break and English Football League (EFL) has reverted to five substitutions allowed after the restart of football last season while the Premier League sticks with three.
The Premier League needs the votes of more than half of the clubs and top clubs, who wanted five substitutions in the top flight to be successful.
Due to the congestion in the fixtures, the EFL will now allow five substitutions in all fixtures from 12 pm on Friday.
Many top-flight coaches have complained of regular muscular injuries in their squads due to the congested fixture. This is more of the reason they wanted five substitutions to lessen the burden on the players. They are therefore urging the Premier League to revisit their rules.
Recently, England head coach Gareth Southgate; QPR manager Mark Warburton have also supported the call for the reintroduction of five subs, adding that it is “common sense coming into play.”
Will Premier League revert to five substitutions and follow EFL footstep?
The EFL Board reverted into five substitutions following consultation with clubs. Therefore the number of substitutes in all Sky Bet EFL fixtures taking place from November 20 until the remainder of the 2020/21 season is now five.
This means Championship clubs can now name up to nine substitutes in their matchday squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch in any fixture.
Since the League One and League, Two sides are also under the EFL, the lower tier clubs can name up to seven substitutes in their matchday squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch.
After voting against five subs per game in August ahead of the 2020/21 season, Premier League clubs will try for the third time. But Premier League CEO Richard Masters has said he did not expect the re-introduction of five subs “for foreseeable future. All that is needed to effect the change is the support of 14 clubs.
If they fail for the third time in getting the other clubs’ support, top-flight clubs involved in European commitment are expected to suffer as they will have to be playing three games in one week, which has been the case since the beginning of this season’s European competition. One of those clubs that have suffered is Tottenham that survived a congested fixture of six-game in 18 days.
England manager Gareth Southgate had recently called on the Premier League to revisit their rules regarding substitutions.
“We were able to make five changes against Belgium – we made four in the end – and clubs don’t have that option.
“What will it take for that to change? There were a couple of less serious injuries against Belgium but what do we do? Wait until we get a load of really nasty ones?,” Southgate said.
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