Covid-19: possibility of using five substitutes is extended until summer 2021 by IFAB

The IFAB board of directors is extending the possibility of allowing up to five substitutions per team "to competitions scheduled to be completed by 31/07/2021 and to international competitions scheduled in July/August 2021," announced FIFA on 15/07/2020.

"The main reason for the temporary amendment was the impact on player welfare of competitions being played in a condensed period and in different weather conditions" due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, according IFAB, guardian of the Laws of the Game (document available to download).

"Following the decision taken on 08/05/2020 to give competitions scheduled to be completed in 2020 the option of allowing teams to use up to five substitutes, The IFAB board of directors had agreed to review whether to extend this option further (to 2021)," said FIFA.

IFAB extended this possibility "on the basis of this in-depth review, which included stakeholder feedback and an analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on competition calendars."

"Each team will only have three opportunities to make substitutions, substitutions made at half-time are…