Football Substitution Rules: How Many Subs Allowed?

If you’ve ever watched a football match, you may have wondered why some players are swapped out for fresh faces on the pitch. The rules around substitutions can seem confusing, especially with different competitions having their own guidelines.

Knowing exactly how many substitutes teams can make is useful for fans, players, and anyone curious about how the game works. In recent years, you may have noticed some changes, especially around player welfare.

In this blog post, we’ll explain the current rules around football substitutions, how many are allowed in a match, and what happens when a team has no substitutions remaining.

What Are The Current Football Substitution Rules?

In most professional matches in the UK, each team can make up to five substitutions. These changes are limited to three substitution windows during normal time, so teams often group multiple players into a single window to stay within the limit. Any substitutions made at half-time do not count towards those three opportunities.

Only one window is used even if a team replaces more than one player during the same stoppage, which is why coaches frequently coordinate changes. Time lost for substitutions is added on by the referee, and players who deliberately delay leaving the field can be cautioned.

If the match goes to extra time, many competitions may allow one additional substitution and one additional window to make changes; however, this may vary by competition.

The interval between the two periods of extra time functions like half-time and does not reduce the normal-time opportunities. Specific competition rules can vary, so teams must follow the regulations set for that tournament or league.

A substitution can take place only with the referee’s permission and when play has stopped. The player being replaced should leave at the nearest boundary line unless directed otherwise, and the substitute may only enter after the outgoing player has fully left and the referee signals.

Once a player is substituted off, they cannot return in the same match, which helps to keep the contest straightforward. Some competitions operate protocols for permanent concussion substitutes, which are separate from the standard limit and must be applied exactly as set out in the relevant regulations.

How Many Substitutes Are Allowed In Football Matches?

The standard in major UK competitions is that managers can use up to five substitutes during a match. These changes are typically made within a limited number of substitution opportunities during normal time (half-time does not usually count towards that limit), which helps keep the flow of play. You’ll often see more players listed as potential subs on the bench, but only five can be brought on.

In some competitions, you will see nine players named among the substitutes, while others list fewer, reflecting different competition regulations and squad registration rules. The bigger the bench, the more tactical options a manager has, even if the number of actual changes remains capped.

Rules can vary slightly across tournaments, particularly in knockout formats and youth fixtures. Some competitions permit an extra substitution in extra time, and concussion substitutions may apply under specific protocols.

If you’re tracking a specific competition, it’s worth checking its official handbook or match regulations for the precise limits, as these can be updated between seasons.

Matchday Squad Sizes And Bench Limits

On matchday, each team names 11 starters and a bench of substitutes. In the Premier League, up to nine substitutes can be listed.

Other leagues and cups may set a different number, which is why benches sometimes look larger or smaller from one competition to the next. Competition regulations decide the size of the bench and who is eligible to be named.

Even with a long bench, only the permitted number of substitutions can be used. In most senior competitions, up to five substitutions in normal time are allowed, usually made across three substitution windows, with half-time not counting towards those windows.

Some tournaments may still use a three‑sub limit, and many allow an extra change in extra time. These limits are set by the competition and must be followed.

This is also why you’ll often see teams hold one change back. Keeping a spare substitute late on can be useful if an injury occurs, if extra time is a possibility, or if a goalkeeper needs to be replaced.

In some competitions, concussion protocols allow an additional concussion substitute, treated separately from the usual allocation. The exact rules vary by competition, and teams are expected to comply with them at all times.

When Can Teams Make Substitutions?

Substitutions can only happen when play has stopped. Typical moments include throw-ins, corners, goal kicks, free kicks, injuries, or after a goal. The fourth official coordinates the change, and the referee signals when it can proceed.

As mentioned earlier, teams have three opportunities to make their changes during normal time, not including half-time. More than one player can be substituted at the same time, which still uses just one opportunity.

Because those windows are limited, timing matters. Some managers prefer to change early to adjust tactics, while others wait for natural pauses or the final stretch if the game opens up.

Substitution Rules In Extra Time

If a match is level after 90 minutes and must produce a winner, it may go to extra time. Many UK competitions allow one additional substitution during this period, on top of the normal allocation.

Teams can also substitute between the end of normal time and the start of extra time, and at half-time in extra time, without using up an in-play window. These allowances help teams manage fatigue and tweak shape if players are getting tired.

How Do Temporary Concussion Substitutions Work?

You may hear the term temporary concussion substitutions, but the model used in most UK competitions is a permanent concussion substitute. This approach is designed to protect players and to give medical staff the space to properly assess head injuries.

If a player is suspected of a concussion, they are permanently removed from the match and replaced; however, an additional concussion substitute does not reduce the team’s normal allocation. In many competitions, the opposing team can also make an extra substitution to keep things balanced.

These protocols have been introduced through trials and competition rules rather than universally across all levels. Once a player is withdrawn for a suspected concussion, their welfare takes precedence over any tactical considerations.

What Happens If A Team Has No Substitutes Left?

If a team has used all its permitted substitutions, as set out in the competition regulations and the laws of the game, and another player cannot continue, the team must carry on with fewer players. No extra changes are allowed once the limit or substitution opportunities are exhausted, regardless of the reason, unless the specific competition rules provide otherwise.

In some situations, a team may have fewer than seven players on the pitch. If this happens, the referee will abandon the match, as there are not enough players for the game to continue fairly.

Any final outcome is subject to the applicable competition rules and the decision of the match authorities.

Substitutions are a resource to manage across the full 90 minutes and, where played, extra time. If you decide to bet on football, understanding how substitutions work can help make matches easier to follow and add a layer of strategy to what you see on the pitch, especially when coaches balance fatigue, tactics, and the remaining substitution opportunities.

Always remember to gamble responsibly by setting limits to your playing time, sticking to a strict budget within your means and making use of any responsible gambling tools available.