The Premier League is always slow to move in the generalction. The self-acclaimed toughest league in the world is always slow to adopt progressive rules to better the game. For all its claims of being leaders in the game, the expectation is that they would lead the way in making game-changing decisions.
Away from on the pitch topics and trending transfer news, we’ll be discussing a topic off it. Italy and Germany implemented VAR during the 2017-18 season. England followed suit during the 2018-19 season with Spain and France. Perhaps, the Premier League waited to see the flaws in the new rule before implementing a better version.
England are behind when it comes to the issue of substitutions in the game. A response to the coronavirus pandemic and the fixture congestion that ensued saw an increase to five substitutions. It was introduced temporarily and adopted in May 2020.
England once again is late to the party. New information suggests the Premier League seems ready to adopt the five substitutions.
Premier League to adopt five substitutions
With the rest of Europe already implementing five substitutions, the Premier League is mulling to adopt the rules. Two top Premier League managers have been proponents of the rule change in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have clamoured for it, and they are about to get their desire.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Premier League clubs will be allowed to make five substitutions from next season. The topic is up for discussion this Thursday at a shareholders meeting.
There was an open objection to the substitution rule by several Premier League clubs. They had insisted on sticking three substitutions instead of an increase to five. The clubs may have seen the light as a change looks to be on the horizon.
Deliberately late to the party
The coronavirus pandemic changed plenty, with football not immune to its effects. There was the suspension of football as the world tried to curtail the spread of the virus. The resumption of football activities in the summer of 2020 saw a temporary amendment to the rules. Among them was the increase in substitution.
There was an increase to five substitutions in May 2020. It was a response measure to the congested fixture list. The advisory panel of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) extended it last summer for a further 18 months before it decided to keep the rule permanently in October.
The Premier League, as usual, was stubborn and refused to adopt the rule. They decided to go against IFAB’s proposal by returning to three substitutions per game. The Premier League has continued to use the old rules despite calls to adopt the five substitutions per game rule.
Two of the top managers in the Premier League criticised their stubbornness to adopt the five substitutions. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made a case for the new rule. They argued the league would be better off with the two extra substitutions.
There were initial concerns by teams in the lower rungs of the table, who argued that it favoured the bigger clubs due to their larger squads. The Premier League may allow the implementation of five substitutions next season.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
