European Clubs Discuss Six Substitutes to Alleviate Player Workload

European Clubs Discuss Six Substitutes to Alleviate Player Workload

European Clubs Discuss Six Substitutes to Alleviate Player Workload

Top European clubs, including several from the Premier League, have engaged in discussions about allowing six substitutes per match to help reduce player workload.

During the European Football Clubs' (EFC) general assembly held in Rome last week, representatives met to address various issues facing the sport.

While the topic was not officially on the agenda and not formally advocated by the EFC, clubs participated in informal discussions regarding the possibility of expanding squad sizes to 28 players, up from the current limit of 25, and implementing the option for six substitutes.

Among the Premier League clubs present in Italy were Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest.

Any changes would require a recommendation from football's rulemakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), and it remains uncertain when, or if, such changes will be enacted.

The introduction of five substitutes in the Premier League began in May 2020, coinciding with the resumption of football during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the league reverted to allowing three substitutes for the 2020-21 season before permanently adopting five substitutes from the 2022-23 season. Notably, a sixth substitute can be utilized to replace a player suspected of having a head injury.

Expanding squad sizes is viewed as a way to alleviate player strain, particularly in light of recent threats of strikes. Last season, Tottenham defender Archie Gray was included in 80 matchday squads for club and country, including friendlies, tying for the highest in Europe with Real Madrid's 20-year-old midfielder Arda Guler.

Gray, 19, made 48 appearances as Spurs clinched the Europa League title and contributed to England Under-21s winning Euro 2025 over the summer.

However, sources close to the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) express skepticism about whether expanding to 28-man squads would effectively alleviate player pressures, as it would not necessarily reduce travel demands on matchdays or mitigate mental fatigue for players, regardless of their participation in matches.

In June, UEFA, the EFC, FIFPro Europe, and European Leagues initiated a study aimed at better understanding various types of injuries, performance levels, and player welfare.

Last month, FIFPro, the global players' union, published its fifth annual report on this topic, analyzing player participation and travel during the 2024-25 season. The report noted that even players who do not participate in matches must still be physically present, engage in team preparations, and manage mental readiness, often while being away from home and undertaking international travel.

As such, these commitments are considered integral to the players' professional responsibilities.

The EFC represents over 800 men's and women's clubs from 55 countries, with notable attendees at last week's assembly including Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and Barcelona.

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