The English Premier League will reintroduce the five substitutes rule from next season

Premier League clubs have voted to reintroduce the five substitutes per game rule from the start of the 2022/23 season.

When England’s top competition restarted in May 2020 after a three-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic, clubs were allowed to increase the number of substitutes from three to five per game. From the 2021/22 season, the rule of no more than three substitutions returned. The exception was a fourth substitution in the event of a head injury.

The Premier League was thus the only top league in Europe to decide against continuing with five substitutes, although a number of managers expressed concerns about player fatigue. Even football’s governing body, the IFAB, recommended that the rule be made permanent.

How did the managers of the top teams in the league feel about the issue?

In December 2021, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said players were “on edge” because of roster demands and absences caused by coronavirus and asked for five substitutes.

“The best and most intense league in the world is the only league with three substitutes at all times. That’s not right. We should change that.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel have also been strong advocates of five substitutions.

“We don’t protect the players and that’s why it’s a disaster. Especially in this calendar. I will demand, if people allow it, that we go back to five substitutions. If not, it’s difficult to maintain it,” Guardiola said.

“I think the situation is very serious and very difficult, so if we decide to continue playing, we should have five changes to control the load,” Tuchel added.

In contrast, Burnley manager Sean Dyche, who is known for making very few substitutions, says allowing five substitutes disproportionately benefits the bigger clubs.

“I think it quite clearly favours the big clubs because they can keep more players happy and more players involved by making more changes,” Dyche said in July 2020.

So for most managers, rotating more players will have another positive aspect. This is because it will calm things down a little bit regarding disgruntled players who don’t get on the pitch in games.

Sources