Premier League confirms five substitutions will be allowed, starting in the 2022/23 season
Jurgen Klopp was a big advocate of introducing five substitutions
After the necessary 14 votes weren't met last season, the Premier League has now confirmed that teams will be allowed five substitutions for the 2022/23 campaign.
Five substitutions per team was first allowed back in May 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, but aftere three failed votes on whether to keep the rule last season, the usual three was restored.
The Premier League were the only league to go back to three substitutes for this season, with other major European Leagues adopting it permanently.
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola were huge advocates of allowing five substitutions, with Liverpool's manager describing the change as "essential" last October.
But other clubs felt it gave the bigger teams a competitive advantage, with their superior squad depth allowing them to rotate more.
However, after a shareholder meeting took place on Thursday between all 20 Premier League clubs, the change was finally passed and will come into action next season.
Premier League Shareholders met today and discussed a range of matters.
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 31, 2022
Clubs agreed to change the rules relating to substitute players. From next season, clubs will be permitted to use five substitutions.
Full statement: https://t.co/Ub985Gl3Lj pic.twitter.com/T27WXiXbUM
For a change to be passed, 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs must vote on it, and after 10 reportedly said no last season, it appears a number of clubs have made a major U-turn.
PFA chairman Maheta Molango addressed the vote earlier this month, and stated that he was in full support of integrating five substitutions per team.
"We are absolutely in favour of it," said Molango.
"We have made this clear to the Premier League. It should never have been a discussion about competitive advantage because it has nothing to do with competitive advantage - as studies show. This is purely a question of player welfare.
"When so many games need to be played we need to make sure the players get a chance to rest properly."
Molango also suggested that by sticking to just three susbtitutes, other European leagues were gaining an advantage on the Premier League.
"We don't want to put our clubs at a disadvantage globally.
"Our competitors overseas have five subs. We are the only top league that has not adopted that rule. When our clubs face giants in Italy, in Spain, in France, the reality is that those clubs would have had the chance to rotate much more."
