September 9 – Spain’s FA (RFEF) has approved an extension of the five-substitutions rule until the end of the 2020/21 season after a request from the league, allowing Spanish clubs to apply the rule and mitigate the consequences of what is projected to be physically daunting season for their players.
Spain will follow in the footsteps of both France and Germany by implementing the rule. England and the Premier League have bucked the trend with the clubs voting against an extension of the rule. On Friday, Granada and Athletic Bilbao will kick off the new La Liga season.
Last season, IFAB, the rule-making governing body, introduced the rule following the global shutdown to allow clubs and players to tackle the congested calendar. The body has extended the rule until next summer, but individual leagues can still decide whether they want to implement it or not.
Controversially, at the international level, the Nations League didn’t adopt the rule, leading to complaints from among others Germany coach Joachim Low over the burden that is placed on the players.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713407344labto1713407344ofdlr1713407344owedi1713407344sni@o1713407344fni1713407344