I-League qualifiers set to have 5-substitution rule

KOLKATA: The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about quite a few changes in football and one of the changes that was applied and continues to be in force in many leagues across the globe is the use of five substitutes per match instead of three.
The I-League qualifiers, which will be played next month in Bengal and will not only get the 2020-21 football season underway but is also set to be the first competitive sporting action in the country since the outbreak of the pandemic, will also have the five-substitution rule in place.
At the same time, a total of 10 players will be allowed on the substitutes' bench and the teams will be allowed to make the five substitutions in maximum three interventions so as not to disrupt the flow of the game.
However, if a team makes a substitution during the break, it would not be counted among the three permitted interventions.
"The priority is the health and safety of the players. Given the fact that the players are coming out of a break of about five to six months and that they have not necessarily been able to have an adequate pre-season, we thought it wise to have the five substitutions in place," said the All India Football Federation Leagues CEO Sunando Dhar.
There is also likely to be a water break in each half.
The I-League qualifiers will commence on October 8 and the rules are also set to be applied in the I-League which is expected to start later in the year.