Top clubs discussing a change to six substitutes

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Could we see another rule change in football at the highest level?

Some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including several from the Premier League, have held talks about allowing six substitutes per game in an effort to ease the growing workload on players.

Author | David Sampson

Euro 2024 Final | Spain v England post match
Euro 2024 final celebrations

Representatives met in Rome last week for the European Clubs’ (EFC) general assembly, where a number of key issues in the modern game were discussed. Although the proposal was not on the formal agenda, informal conversations reportedly centred on the possibility of expanding squads from 25 to 28 players and introducing a sixth substitution.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest were among the English clubs in attendance. Any change would first need approval from football’s rulemaking body, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), and there is no indication of when, or if, such a move might be implemented.

The Premier League initially introduced five substitutes in May 2020 as football resumed during the Covid-19 pandemic, before reverting to three for the following season. The five-substitute rule was later made permanent from the 2022–23 campaign, with an additional change permitted for head injuries.

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane has been one of the most high profile figures to call for a reduction in the calendar.

Additional advocates of the proposal believe larger squads could help ease the strain on players amid growing fixture congestion and threats of industrial action. Tottenham’s Archie Gray, for instance, was part of 80 matchday squads last season for club and country – the joint highest in Europe alongside Real Madrid’s Arda Guler. The 19-year-old made 48 appearances as Spurs lifted the Europa League and England Under-21s won Euro 2025.

A selection of players at Chelsea and Manchester City have been involved in tournaments for the last three summers and most of them will be involved in the summer's World Cup. The same can be said for the likes of PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Club World Cup Final | Chelsea v PSG
Chelsea v PSG Club World Cup final

However, sources close to the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have questioned whether larger squads would meaningfully reduce player fatigue, noting that many would still face the same travel and mental demands even if they did not play.

In June, Uefa, the EFC, FifPro Europe and European Leagues launched a joint study to examine injury trends, player welfare and performance levels across the continent.

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