PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are set to get the chance to make FIVE substitutes when the season can be resumed.
Fears over player burn-out and injuries with remaining games crammed into a matter of five weeks or less will lead to the “temporary” Law change.
SunSport revealed earlier this month how top flight bosses were keen on the idea to help prevent injuries.
And now a Fifa proposal to introduce the short-term measure has been made – with the four Home Nations having to decide if it should be approved worldwide.
If it is approved, then it would be down to the 20 Prem clubs to decide if they wanted to adopt the change for the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign.
Football’s Law-making body the International FA Board has been asked to consider the Law change as a matter of urgency.
Under the proposals, the current rules stating a maximum of three substitutes in a 90-minute competitive match would be amended to allow two extra replacements.
But teams would still only have three exchange “windows” per match – either during breaks of play or at half-time – meaning they could not make five individual player swaps but only five in total.
SunSport understands that Fifa has huge concerns at the repercussions for players of the expected tight timetable when matches are given the green light to resume.
Uefa has already set an August 2 deadline for the end of domestic campaigns in Europe, allowing for the Champions League and Europa League to be played out between August 7 and 29.
Prem players could still be weeks away from being allowed to train, with the Government’s lockdown in place until at least May 7.
SE revealed that Downing Street sees the return of football as a huge morale-booster for the country and a sign of normality coming back.
But with up to four weeks of “pre-season” required to build match fitness with the last top flight game in this country having been played on March 9, there may be barely a month available to complete the calendar.
Ifab is composed of one representative of each of the four Home Nations, with Fifa also having four votes on usual Law changes.
However, this measure would be approved purely by the Ifab board, with Fifa having just one vote and a simple majority of the five members required.
It means British football holds the key to the new rule being introduced – although it would not be mandatory for all countries to adopt it.
Instead, it would be at the discretion of each competition, meaning the Prem clubs would have the final vote on whether to bring it in until the end of the season.
It is expected that the League would be broadly in favour although some clubs have questioned whether the “sporting integrity” of the competition might be at risk if rules are changed mid-season.
