USL FC Tulsa

USL Championship to Allow Each Team Five Substitutes Per Match

Published on June 23, 2020 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


TAMPA - On Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that the USL Championship's Board of Governors voted to implement a major rule change to the 2020 season restart, one that many soccer leagues around the globe have instituted since the COVID-19 pandemic. When the league returns to play in July, FC Tulsa and the other 34 USL Championship clubs will be allowed to make up to five substitutions per match, an increase from the previously allowed three.

While the number of subs per match will change, the stoppages in play will not. FC Tulsa will still only have three opportunities during the run of play to make a substitution, meaning that multiple subs occurring at once will likely become more regular. The exception to the rule will remain that any subs made at halftime of a match do not count towards a team's three opportunities.

"The USL Championship going from three to five substitutes will be a positive change all around," said FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien. "Players will restart the season without the level of training they are accustomed to, due to the restrictions of the training moratorium. What's important from this perspective is that we are able to keep everyone healthy. With multiple weeks of two-match cycles, the players are going into a demanding environment with limited recovery opportunities and will need to be managed properly."

This temporary rule amendment, allowed by the International Football Association Board which governs global soccer rules, is in line with many of the top leagues around the world including the Premier League in England, the Bundesliga in Germany and Major League Soccer in the U.S.

"Allowing three opportunities and halftime to make these changes also keeps the game flowing with limited interruption," said Nsien. "I believe that fans will be able to see the quality of the games stay at a high pace and entertaining level because of fresh players available to come on. It also gives the chance for more players to get game experience in a very competitive environment."

Unlike those other leagues however, the USL Championship will keep its matchday roster size per club to 18, meaning if a team uses its maximum allotment of five substitutions, 16 of a possible 18 players will take the pitch during the match.

The 2020 USL Championship season is currently set to resume on July 11. FC Tulsa's Season Tickets For Life at ONEOK Field remains on sale and offers fans the lowest per match ticket prices in the USL Championship. Fans that purchase now will see their per match price locked in for as many seasons as FC Tulsa plays at its home of ONEOK Field.

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