Premier League under severe pressure to make 5 substitutes rule permanent which could aid top clubs like Tottenham Hotspur
According to the Times (Subscription Required) [h/t Football.London], there is a huge support to reinstate the 5 substitutes rule again after meeting with the International FA Board’s (IFAB) technical and football panels, which comes as good news for top clubs like Tottenham Hotspur who can then rotate players better to preserve them from fatigue and injuries.
The 5 substitutes rule was brought in to help get the footballing community up and running. As part of the initiation or project ‘restart’, clubs would be able to make 5 changes throughout the match. This rule was taken back to the original option of 3 substitutes as players and management started getting to grips with football again.
This could be a great boost for the Lilyhiwtes. With a hectic schedule on the cards, the top clubs have to play across several competitions. Apart from the Premier League, Spurs also compete in the domestic cups as well as the UEFA Europa Conference League this season.
This frequency of matches can take a toll on even the best players and the 5 substitutes rule could come as a big relief to these top clubs. On the other hand, the clubs that are at the bottom cannot afford the squad depth that some of the big teams possess. This could make it difficult for them to play against the top guns who usually have greater bench strength and can use it to their advantage.
This rule was abandoned in the PL in the summer of 2020. Aston Villa, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leicester City, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, West Ham United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers are some of the clubs that voted against this rule in December 2020.
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It is now being suggested that the increasing pressure means that the PL could adopt this rule again on a permanent basis. Tottenham Hotspur could greatly benefit from such a change as it would allow Nuno Espirito Santo the option to rotate his players and preserve the fitness of the key players in his squad.
