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Premier League increase matchday squad size, but not number of substitutions

Still just 3 subs, but will trial concussion subs

Chelsea v Krasnodar - UEFA Champions League - Group E - Stamford Bridge Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images

The number of substitutes allowed has been a hot-button topic during his hot-topic of a Premier League season, and the Premier League have finally relented and starting this weekend, will be allowing two more substitutes ... to sit on the bench.

That’s right, teams will be allowed to name nine substitutes instead of seven, but still will be only allowed to use three instead of five.

El. Oh. El.

The move to expand the bench probably has a lot more to do with the league’s announced intention to trial IFAB’s suggested rule changes regarding “concussions subs”, which would allow teams to make two extra changes in a given game for (suspected) head injuries.

And while that’s certainly good and more than welcome and probably long overdue, the staunch refusal of the majority of the league’s stakeholders to increase the number of substitutes from three to five — like every other European league sensibly have — continues to baffle and rankle.

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