Shareholders agree in principle to the use of neutral venues if required; no plans to vote or come to an agreement over a method of curtailment just yet
Friday 5 June 2020 09:46, UK
Five substitutions will be allowed in games when the Premier League restarts on June 17, it has been decided at the latest league meeting.
The 20 member clubs met on Thursday to discuss a range of measures building towards the planned return to action later this month.
It has been decided that, for the remainder of the 2019/20 season, the number of substitutes used during a match will increase from three to five players.
Shareholders also approved for clubs to increase the maximum number of substitute players on the bench from seven to nine for the rest of the 2019/20 season.
FIFA proposed the substitutions rule change to IFAB, which is responsible for the laws of the game, as players are likely to be asked to play matches in a condensed period of time during the summer months.
Teams will be limited to three opportunities during matches to make their substitutions - as well as half-time - in a bid to prevent unnecessary stoppages.
By Geraint Hughes, Sky Sports News reporter
A number of issues were discussed at the Premier League shareholders meeting, so much work has been done in previous meetings of which there have been at least one a week, but so much more is still to be decided.
On Thursday, the method or framework for curtailment continued to be discussed as it has done in previous meetings. At the moment there is so much momentum behind the restart of the season on June 17, there are no plans to vote or come to an agreement over a method of curtailment just yet.
It's something they can possibly look at if and when a scenario where it is needed exists. The processes and planning is in place as part of the government's Step 4 return to play protocols.
There is a feeling that with so much momentum behind the restart that they don't need to make a public vote on this at the moment.
There have been no votes regarding neutral venues but there is an agreement in principle that they can be used if required.
If a scenario exists where a match cannot be safely held at a home venue, a contingency is in place to move it to a neutral venue.
We have spoken to the police a lot about this, it's about contingency and flexibility. They need to have plans in place that can be enacted relatively quickly.
Tottenham have confirmed they have received the only positive test for coronavirus from the fifth round of Premier League testing results.
The fifth batch of tests took place on Monday and Tuesday this week.
A statement from Tottenham read: "We have been informed by the Premier League that we have received one positive test for COVID-19 following the latest round of testing at our Training Centre.
"Due to medical confidentiality, the individual's name will not be disclosed."
The Premier League has set a provisional date of return for June 17, provided all safety tests are cleared, with Sky Sports showing 64 live games, including 25 which will be broadcast free to air.
In addition to the 39 matches scheduled to be broadcast on Sky before the coronavirus interruption, 25 more matches will be available on both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky's free-to-air Pick channel.
