LONDON: After agreeing to the rule change late on Thursday, Premier League clubs will be able to make five substitutions starting in the 2022/23 season.

Due to fixture congestion caused by the coronavirus outbreak, teams in the English top division were allowed to make five changes for the closing stages of the 2019/20 season.

However, unlike in other major leagues and European events, the rule was later changed to three substitutions per side because to concerns that more changes would give larger teams with deeper rosters an unfair edge.

“From next season, clubs will be permitted to use five substitutions, to be made on three occasions during a match, with an additional opportunity at half-time,” the Premier League said in a statement.

Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and Pep Guardiola of Manchester City were vociferous critics of the earlier unwillingness to accept the modification, citing the demands placed on players by the English game.

“All around the world there is five substitutions. Here we believe we are a special league with just three players, we don’t protect the players,” Guardiola said last season.

“It’s not an advantage, it’s a necessity,” Klopp said, accusing Premier League CEO Richard Masters of “lack of leadership” on the matter.

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