Premier
League clubs have agreed to five substitutes being permitted per match from
next season, while the summer transfer window dates have been revealed.
Top-flight clubs voted in favour of the substitution rule change at a
shareholder meeting of all 20 Premier League clubs on Thursday.
Five substitutes were originally introduced in May 2020 due to the
coronavirus pandemic, but the league reverted back to three subs for the
2020/21 season and this campaign.
Previously, teams had voted against the introduction of five substitutes on
several occasions in the past two years.
The Premier League have also confirmed the summer transfer window will open
on Friday June 10 and will close at 11pm on Thursday September 1.
The league also announced a change to Covid-19 testing, with only
symptomatic individuals to be tested from Monday.
A Premier League statement said: "Premier League Shareholders met today and
discussed a range of matters.
"Clubs agreed to change the rules relating to substitute players. From next
season, clubs will be permitted to use five substitutions, to be made on
three occasions during a match, with an additional opportunity at half-time.
A total of nine substitutes can be named on the team sheet.
"It was also confirmed that the Summer 2022 Transfer Window will open on 10
June and will close at 23:00 BST on 1 September in line with other European
leagues.
"In addition, the Premier League has today updated its remaining COVID-19
measures.
"From 4 April, the League will remove twice-weekly COVID-19 testing of
players and staff and move to symptomatic testing only. Other key updates
include the removal of the requirement for clinical passports to access
previously restricted areas at training grounds and on match days as the
Premier League returns to business-as-usual operations.
"The wellbeing of players and staff remains a priority and the Premier
League will continue to monitor the national COVID-19 situation and adapt
League-wide protocols as required, in line with the latest guidance from
public health authorities and medical experts."
What have managers said about five subs?
In December 2021, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said players were "at the
edge" due to the demands of the fixture schedule and absences caused by
Covid, and called for five subs.
"We have to put the competition aside and don't say that Man City has better
subs than Burnley or whatever," said the German. "Yes that's probably true.
But the problem is the intensity for a top-class footballer in England is
definitely at the edge.
"You bring players back after Covid or after an injury, and because of the
games we have to play they have to play immediately. Then they are out again
because you cannot get them off after 60 minutes because you have to change
other things.
"This wonderful game is so wonderful because usually the players on the
pitch are in good shape, are well-trained, have recovered and go for it.
That's why we love the game.
"The best league in the world, and the most intense league in the world, is
the only league with still three subs. That's not right. We should change
it."
Man City boss Pep Guardiola and Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel are also
both strong advocates of five substitutions.
In December 2020, Guardiola said: "All around the world it's five
substitutions, but here we believe we are more special people.
"We don't protect the players, and that's why it's a disaster. In this
calendar, especially. I will demand, if the people allow, we have to come
back to five substitutions. If not, it's difficult to sustain it."
Meanwhile, Tuchel said in December 2021: "I would love to push for five
substitutions because five substitutions were made to protect the players
when coronavirus popped up and made life difficult.
"I think the situation is very serious and very challenging so if we decided
to keep on playing at least we should have five changes to control the
load."
But some - such as Sean Dyche, the Burnley manager - believed allowing five
subs disproportionately benefits bigger clubs, such as Liverpool.
"I think it quite obviously favours the big clubs because they can keep more
players happy and more players involved by making more changes," Dyche said
in July 2020.
"A lot of football often does. We all had to change the size of our home
pitches to make sure they aligned with the big clubs who were in Europe.
"We all had to cut the grass the same length. So most things are pushed
forward by the big clubs in the division.
"But equally the big clubs are part of what sells the division to the world.
They are fantastic clubs in their own right, they have got amazing histories
and a lot of prowess in football.
"It could be a slightly calmer situation for managers [of bigger clubs] with
players who get slightly disgruntled than if they're out of the team and out
of the squad."
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