Bundesliga clubs vote to keep five substitutions rule in place for 2020/21 season

Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs have agreed to allow teams to make five substitutions per game for the upcoming season.

The 36 professional clubs in the top two divisions of German football met on Thursday for a virtual meeting, and one of the decisions made was to extend the five substitutions rule in the Bundesliga for the 2020/21 season.

The rule first came into effect in May when football made its return following the suspension of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With teams facing packed schedules, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) made the decision to allow them to make five substitutions instead of three in every game. The IFAB gave leagues the chance to extend the rule for the upcoming season. And now teams will be allowed to make five substitutions per game in the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, Frauen Bundesliga, as well as the DFB Pokal.

The five substitution rule has split opinion, with some (like Borussia Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre) being in favour of it. While former Borussia Dortmund head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld called the rule a ‘catastrophe’. The hope is that keeping the rule in place will allow teams to protect players from the risk of injuries.

In addition to allow the five substitutions rule to continue, clubs also agreed on the revised hygiene concept for the 2020/21 season. Players will be tested at least once a week, depending on the level of COVID-19 infections in the respective districts.

During a press conference after the meeting, DFL boss Christian Seifert said that he expects the upcoming season to be the “most demanding and difficult season” in the history of German football.