The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that determines the Laws in football has made a temporary amendment to Law 3 as part of measures to protect the welfare of players.

IFAB said in a circular that the temporary amendment had become necessary as matches “may be played in a condensed period” as football resumes in some countries after it was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Law 3 previously allowed a maximum of three substitutes but the amendment will see that increase to five.

Teams will have three substitution opportunities and may additionally make substitutions at half time.

Teams are allowed to use an additional substitution if games travel into extra time and may additionally make susbstituions in the period before the start of extra time and at half time in extra time.

The amendment is for competitions scheduled to be completed in 2020, whether or not they have already started and is not binding.

Competition organizers have the discretion as to whether or not to apply the amendment.

Read the IFAB document below