Premier League clubs agree to 5 substitutions rule change for 2019-20 season

As Premier League 2019-20 season gears up for resumption, managers will be able to make up to five substitutions for the remained of the campaign after the clubs agreed to make the temporary rule change at a meeting on Thursday.

With medical experts expecting more injuries upon the resumption of Premier League, FIFA proposed the solution of increasing the number of substitutes to five in a bid to “protect player welfare” with the fixture list being cramped up into a few weeks. 

Premier League clubs also gave a green signal to increase the number of substitutes available for selection from seven to nine for the remainder of the 2019-20 season. 

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"For the remainder of the 2019/20 season, the number of substitutes that can be used during a match will increase from three to five players," the Premier League said in a statement.

"Shareholders also approved for clubs to increase the maximum number of substitute players on the bench from seven to nine for the rest of the 2019/20 season."

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Another rule which comes into play is each team will only have three opportunities, excluding half-time, to make the changes.

The league campaign will resume on June 17 with Manchester City facing Arsenal and Sheffield United locking horns against Aston Villa. The remaining nine round of matches in Premier League 2019-20 campaign is then expected to be completed in five weeks.