With Sky Bet Championship football set to resume this weekend, please see below some of the temporary rule changes and protocols that will be in place for the remainder of the 2019/20 season across all EFL matches.
Substitutions
One of those rule changes include the number of substitutes used during a match which will increase from three to five players.
- Each team will have a maximum of three opportunities to make substitutions
- If both teams make a substitution at the same time, this will count as one of the three opportunities for each team.
- In a normal 90 minute fixture, once all three opportunities have been used, no further substitutions can be made.
- Unused substitutions and opportunities are carried forward into extra time, where applicable.
- Where Competition rules allow an additional substitution in extra time, teams will each have one additional substitution opportunity; substitutions may also be made before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
Temporary Loan Transfers
- A maximum of 6 Players registered on a Temporary Loan Transfer can be named on a team sheet
- This maximum shall reduce to 5 Players where a Club names a Player on the team sheet who
is registered on an Emergency Goalkeeper Loan
- Maximum of 5 Players on a Temporary Loan Transfer permitted on the field of play at one time.
Walkout Protocol
- Players and Match Official entry will be staggered onto the pitch.
- There will be no handshakes. Players to take up on pitch positions in the same half as they warmed up ready for kick off.
Matchday Behaviour
- Social distancing measures should be maintained whenever possible including during goal celebrations, in the warm-up, when entering and leaving the pitch, and at all times with the Match Officials.
Techinical Area
- Those in the technical area must behave in a responsible manner and maintain social distancing measures with the Fourth Official
Pre-match Activity
The EFL and its Clubs will stand together in solidarity against racial discrimination through a powerful online video campaign to say we don’t and will not accept prejudice, not today or any day.
Players from EFL Clubs returning to play this week will take part in the videos that will be issued across multiple platforms, to demand more from each other; more inclusion, respect and equality and offer support to our colleagues, friends and members of the wider community who continue to be subjected to unacceptable forms of discrimination.
In addition, the EFL will also say thank you to NHS key workers at fixtures across this weekend.
Players will wear shirts featuring an ‘NHS Rainbow – Thank You’ emblem and a period of applause will take place prior to all matches from 18-21 June 2020.
