The board of directors of the International Board (IFAB), the body in charge of introducing reforms in the football regulations, approved this Friday to extend the possibility that the organizers of the competitions allow teams to make up to five substitutions per game until December 31 2022. A measure that covers the World Cup of that year in Qatar, which will exceptionally be played from November 21 to December 18.
This decision was made after a global analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on soccer and input from stakeholders in the global soccer community.
The temporary amendment, which was introduced in May 2020, aims to safeguard the health of players, particularly when schedules have been altered and competitions have to be played in a condensed period of time.
The IFAB noted that it will continue to review the impact of the pandemic on football and consult again with various stakeholders.
According to Law 3-The Players of the regulation, this possibility contemplates five substitutions, with three 'windows' to do it apart from the rest and in the event that it is a match with extension, an additional change may be made.
If a team has not used its maximum number of substitutions or substitution opportunities, substitutions and unused opportunities may be carried out in overtime.