RFEF Suggests Additional Substitution Number When La Liga Returns

Real Madrid (Instagram @realmadrid)

JAKARTA - The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) will propose an increase in the number of substitutions in La Liga matches as the season progresses.

Spain has gradually relaxed the lockdown which has seen professional football suspended since March.

La Liga confirmed on Monday that the club could return to this week's training session. While the competition is planned to return in June.

As football prepares to return, the RFEF - supported by La Liga - asked the FIFA board (IFAB) to allow changes to the number of substitutions during matches. The main objective is to protect the health of the players after an unexpected lull this season.

The RFEF, which claims support from FIFA, will propose the addition of up to five substitutions from the previous three. These substitutions are made at three different times throughout the match.

This rule change applies to all RFEF competitions, including Segunda B and Tercera, which will be completed by the promotional play-offs.

"With this proposal, the RFEF wants to go forward and propose steps that support the health of the players," said president Luis Rubiales, launching Football Espana, Friday, May 9.

Previously, FIFA had proposed the use of five substitutions per match for each team. FIFA realizes that clubs will face a stacked schedule when they finally return to action.

Therefore, in order to ease the workload of the players they allow two additional substitutions during the match, or a total of six substitutions if the match goes into extra time.

Organizers will have the option of implementing the new interim rules until the end of next season, while it will also apply to national team matches up to and including December 31, 2021.