The Premier League refused to apply the rule of five substitutions per game, as coaches like Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola had requested, but he approved that two additional changes can be made for concussions.
The entities involved in the development of the Premier League met for the last time this year and, putting “as a priority the well-being of the footballers”, approved the introduction of two additional substitutions in the event of concussion.
This news comes after the IFAB, the body that regulates soccer rules, approved the proposal on Wednesday and after the Mexican player Raul Jimenez, from Wolverhampton, suffered a skull fracture a few weeks ago in a clash with David Luiz, of Arsenal, who continued to play against the recommendations of the regulations.
Thus, that player who has or is suspected of having a concussion may be replaced, regardless of whether your computer has already used the maximum number of substitutions, that is, three.
To prevent this rule from being abused, when a team makes an additional substitution for concussion, your opponent can also make one automatically.
The number of changes (3) that each team can make has not been altered, despite pressure from coaches like Klopp or Guardiola to increase to five, as in the rest of European leagues, to preserve the health of footballers.
What will be increased is the number of players who can be on the bench, from seven to nine, from matchday 14 and only for this season.