A SURVEY CONDUCTED by the World Players’ Union FIFPro has found that 84 per cent of players are in favour of allowing a fourth substitution to be used during matches.
Football’s rule making body the International Football Association Board has twice rejected proposals that would allow an extra substitute to be used during extra time, the most recent of these being in February of this year.
FIFPro said on its Twitter account that 244 players from 27 countries took part in the survey and 39 said they were against a fourth substitution while 205 supported the idea.
Of those 205 players in favour, 119 said they would like a fourth substitute to be allowed in extra time and 86 players wanted the fourth substitute to be allowed during the 90 minutes.
“The response to our survey is overwhelming; whether only applied to extra-time or during the regulation 90 minutes, professional footballers worldwide surveyed by FIFPro see a need to add a fourth substitute,” said FIFPro Secretary General Theo van Seggelen in a statement released by the union.
“It’s a position that will challenge traditional views, but the players have one of the most important roles in this debate.
“Our research is representative of players on all continents and they have clearly shown a preference for the game to evolve and show greater flexibility, especially during matches that go to extra time.”
Would you be in favour of the IFAB allowing a fourth substitute to be used during normal or extra time?