Substitutions

A substitute is a named player on the team sheet who is on the bench and may enter the field to replace a teammate, following the substitution procedure.

A substitution opportunity is a stoppage during which a team can make changes. Multiple subs at the same stoppage count as ONE opportunity.

A return substitution lets a replaced player come back on later — but only in competitions where the rule is specifically permitted.

A concussion substitute is an extra substitution, beyond the normal limit, used specifically for a suspected or actual concussion.

The technical area is the designated zone alongside the field where coaching staff and substitutes wait. The number of personnel and behaviour rules are defined by competition.

Substitutes must be listed on the team sheet before kick-off — only those named can take part. The maximum is typically 15.

A match cannot start or continue if a team has fewer than 7 players. Below 7, the match is not played (or is abandoned).

Rolling substitutions allow free interchange of players (player re-entry). Used in futsal and many youth/grassroots competitions; not standard in 11v11 adult football.

A tactical substitution is one made for any reason — strategy, fatigue, formation change. Fully legal under Law 3.

An outfield player and the goalkeeper swapping roles during play is called 'changing places with the goalkeeper' — legal only at a stoppage, with the referee's permission.

Since 2022/23, the 5-substitute rule has been permanent in IFAB Laws. Top-level competitions allow up to 5 substitutions per team in regulation time.

Half-time is a free extra opportunity that does not count against the 3 in-play substitution windows.

Since 2022, IFAB raised the named substitutes limit from 12 to 15 at the discretion of the competition.

Each team is permitted one concussion substitute per match. It is in ADDITION to the 5 normal substitutes.

To preserve fairness, when a team uses a concussion substitute, the OPPOSING team can use one additional substitute for any reason.

Where competition rules permit, teams get 1 additional substitute and 1 additional opportunity in extra time. Substitutions between full-time and ET, and at ET half-time, don't count as opportunities.

From the mid-1990s, the standard limit was 3 substitutes per team. This was the rule until COVID-related changes in May 2020.

Any number of substitutions made during the same stoppage counts as only one substitution opportunity.

The 5-substitute rule started as a temporary COVID measure (2020) before IFAB made it permanent for the 2022/23 season.

In 2022, IFAB raised the maximum named substitutes from 12 to 15 at the discretion of competition organisers, alongside making the 5-sub rule permanent.

The referee must be informed before any substitution. Procedure: referee informed, player leaves, sub enters at halfway line.

The fourth official typically manages substitution requests and the substitution board (which displays sub numbers).

A substitute enters the field at the halfway line, after the player they are replacing has left.

A substituted player leaves from the nearest boundary point, not necessarily the halfway line, unless the referee says otherwise.

The referee always has the final say on whether and when a substitute may enter the field.

Any player can be substituted — including the goalkeeper. There's no restriction on which players can be replaced.

The names of substitutes must be given to the referee before kick-off. Substitutes not named cannot take part.

The 2025/26 'Captain Only' procedure restricts non-captains from approaching the referee during key incidents. The captain alone may speak respectfully with the referee.

If the goalkeeper is sent off, an outfield player can take over goalkeeping. Most teams substitute a reserve GK for an outfield player if substitutions remain.

Medical staff assess concussion. If an actual or suspected concussion is identified, the team can opt to use a concussion substitute (additional, permanent).

In standard adult football, once substituted a player cannot return. Return subs are permitted only in youth, veterans, disability, and grassroots football.

The incoming substitute may not enter until the outgoing player has actually left the field.

Goalkeepers can be replaced during a shootout if they are unable to continue (e.g., injury) — provided the team has not used all its substitutes. They cannot be replaced for tactical reasons.

Multiple substitutions at the same stoppage are allowed and together use only one substitution opportunity.

Only substitutes named on the team sheet before kick-off can take part. An unnamed player entering is an offence.

Goalkeeper and outfield players may only swap roles at a stoppage and with the referee's permission — never during live play.

Half-time substitutions are allowed and don't count toward the 3 substitution opportunities — a free chance to make changes.

If a player is being treated off the field, the team can substitute them without requiring re-entry. The substitution proceeds normally.

Substitutes are normally allowed to warm up in designated areas. They must wear distinguishing 'bib' and follow competition rules.

A red-carded player cannot be replaced. The team plays the rest of the match a man down — even if substitutions remain.

Entering without permission is a cautionable offence for the substitute, restarted with an indirect free kick to the opponents.

Deliberately leaving the field without permission is a cautionable offence — yellow card.

Swapping roles during play without permission earns a caution for both the goalkeeper and the outfield player involved.

Multiple subs at the same stoppage count as one opportunity — IFAB explicitly allows this.

After 3 opportunities, a team cannot substitute more — except concussion subs (additional) or in extra time (1 more opportunity).

A sub sent off (e.g., dissent) doesn't reduce the team's allowable subs. The team still has the same opportunities available.

If a starter is sent off before kick-off, a named substitute can replace them. The team starts with 11.

A team that drops below 7 players on the field, the required minimum to continue, forces the match to be abandoned.

An unnamed player entering as a substitute is a serious offence. Red card; the player is reported; team's named substitutes count is NOT reduced.

Concussion subs must follow the IFAB protocol. Misuse may lead to disciplinary action by the competition organiser.

An informal international substitution (1889) predates the Laws officially permitting substitutions (1958) and their World Cup debut (1970).

The earliest known substitution in a competitive match was in 1885 — for an absent player. Substitutions weren't formally part of the Laws yet.

In 1889, Wales' goalkeeper Jim Trainer didn't arrive for a match against Scotland. A substitute came in to replace him. This is recorded as the first international substitution.

Substitutions were first allowed at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico — same tournament where cards debuted. Two substitutes per team were permitted.

From the mid-1990s, the standard was 3 substitutes per team. This remained the rule until COVID-related changes in 2020.

In May 2020, IFAB introduced the 5-substitute rule as a temporary COVID measure to protect player welfare during fixture congestion.

The substitute allowance grew in stages: introduced in 1958, standardised at 3 by the 1990s, raised to 5 in 2020, and made permanent in 2022.

Concussion substitutions were made permanent at IFAB's 138th AGM on 2 March 2024, after multi-year trials.

The Premier League adopted the 5-substitute rule for the 2022/23 season, later than several other major European leagues.

Until 1965, English domestic football didn't allow substitutions for any reason. The FA introduced 1 sub for any reason in 1965.

If subs are exhausted, an outfield player must take over goalkeeping. The shootout continues.

Concussion subs are additional permanent subs — they don't count toward the 5 normal sub limit. Each team gets 1 per match.

Per the IFAB protocol, in competitions where named subs equal the max normal subs, a previously-substituted player may be brought back as concussion sub.

Refusing to leave when substituted earns the outgoing player a caution, but the substitution proceeds regardless.

An accidental extra player on the field is corrected as soon as the referee notices — play is stopped and the error is fixed.

A substitute's misconduct on the bench, before ever entering the field, can still be cautioned or sent off by the referee.

Wait — actually 4 subs over 4 stoppages = 4 opportunities used. Limit is 3. So they cannot make 4 in 4 different stoppages without violating the rule. The team would be denied the 4th separate-stoppage substitution.

5 subs in 2 stoppages = 2 opportunities. Half-time can be used as a third opportunity that doesn't count. So this is allowed.

Substitutions take place at stoppages — the kick must wait. The new player takes the field-of-play position.

Return subs are NOT permitted in senior 'A' or top-division club football — only in approved youth/veterans/disability/grassroots competitions.

Football caps substitutions at 5 with no return; futsal's rolling system allows unlimited substitutions, with players able to return to the game.

The rule moved from an unlimited-opportunity 3-sub system (pre-COVID) to today's 5 substitutes capped at 3 opportunities.

Concussion subs are ADDITIONAL — they don't count toward the 5 normal subs.

In senior 'A' international matches, up to 15 substitutes can be named, and up to 6 can be used (per IFAB).

Extra time adds one more substitute and one more substitution opportunity on top of the regulation-time allowance, where competition rules permit.

Most other European top leagues adopted 5 subs from 2020 (COVID temporary). The Premier League was one of the last to switch in 2022/23.

Half-time substitutions are 'free' — they don't count toward the 3 substitution opportunities. Tactical advantage for teams.

Return subs (only in approved grassroots/youth/etc.) allow players to come back. Normal subs do not — the substituted player is out for the match.

Changing places with the goalkeeper requires referee permission and a stoppage. Doing so during play without permission = yellow card to both players.

Ice hockey allows rolling substitutions ('on the fly') — players come on and off freely. Football does not (in adult 11v11).

3 windows already used. The 4th sub at a 4th stoppage is forbidden under the 3-opportunity rule.

Grouping substitutions into stoppages, not counting each individual sub, is what determines how many opportunities are used.

Half-time subs are free — they don't count toward the 3 opportunities.

Concussion subs are additional. The team can replace the GK; the opponents get 1 additional sub for fairness.

A team below 7 cannot continue — match is abandoned.

Entering without permission earns the substitute a caution, restarted with an indirect free kick regardless of what happens next.

A sent-off goalkeeper can be replaced like any other player, as long as the team still has substitutions available.

Changing places with the goalkeeper during play without permission = yellow card to both.

Return substitutions are restricted to youth/veterans/disability/grassroots — not Premier League. The substituted player cannot return.

In approved youth football, return subs are permitted. The substituted player can re-enter.

5 subs in regulation time — permanent in IFAB Laws since 2022/23.

3 substitution opportunities, plus half-time which doesn't count.

A match cannot start with fewer than 7 players per team.

The Laws (1958), the World Cup debut (1970), the temporary COVID rule (2020) and its permanence (2022) arrived in that order.

Concussion subs are additional permanent subs (1 per team), used for actual or suspected concussion.

A substitute waits at the halfway line and only enters once the outgoing player has left and the referee has signalled.

Red-carded players cannot be replaced. The team plays a man down.

An unauthorised entry earns the substitute a caution and gives the opponents an indirect free kick.

Up to 15 named substitutes since 2022 (raised from 12).

Substitutions added to the Laws in 1958 — initially only 1 per match.