Premier League clubs to allow five substitutes from 2022-23 season

Premier League clubs have voted in favour of reintroducing the use of five substitutes per game from the start of the 2022-23 season, the league said on Thursday.

Premier League clubs have ruled in favour of reintroducing the use of five substitutes per game from the start of the 2022-23 season. The substitutions can be made on three occasions during a game, not including halftime, and clubs can name nine substitutes in total on their team sheet, the league said in a statement.

Clubs were allowed to increase the number of substitutes from three per match in the 2019-20 campaign due to the Covid-19 outbreak but the Premier League voted against continuing the rule in 2020. The Premier League was the only major competition to abandon the rule because some clubs felt it gave those with bigger squads an unfair advantage.

Soccer’s law-making body IFAB had recommended making the rule permanent, but the Premier League was the only top league in Europe to decide against continuing five substitutes from 2020-21 even as a number of managers voiced concerns about player fatigue.

A Premier League statement said: "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."

The Premier League added it would stop twice-weekly Covid-19 testing of players and staff from Monday, with only symptomatic individuals to be tested. It was also confirmed that this summer's transfer window will open on 10 June and will close at 23:00 BST on 1 September, in line with other European leagues.