Substitute (association football)

In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is performing poorly, or for tactical reasons (such as bringing a striker on in place of a defender). Unlike some sports (such as American football, ice hockey or kabaddi), but like in baseball, a player who has been substituted during a match takes no further part in it.

The substitute bench of the national team of Argentina.

Most competitions only allow each team to make a maximum of three substitutions during a game and a fourth substitute during extra time, although more substitutions are often permitted in non-competitive fixtures such as friendlies. A fourth substitution in extra time was first implemented in recent tournaments, including the 2016 Summer Olympics, the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup final.[1][2][3][4] A fourth substitute in extra time has been approved for use in the elimination rounds at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.[5][6] Each team nominates a number of players (typically between five and seven, depending on the competition) who may be used as substitutes; these players typically sit in the technical area with the coaches, and are said to be "on the bench". When the substitute enters the field of play it is said they have come on or have been brought on, while the player they are substituting for is coming off, or being brought off or substituted.

A player who is noted for frequently making appearances, or scoring important goals, as a substitute is often informally known as a "super sub".

History

The origin of football substitutes goes back to at least the early 1860s as part of English public school football games. The original use of the term "substitute" in football was to describe the replacement of players who failed to turn up for matches. For example, in 1863, a match reports states: "The Charterhouse eleven played a match in cloisters against some old Carthusians but in consequence of the non-appearance of some of those who were expected it was necessary to provide three substitutes.[7]" The substitution of absent players happened as early as the 1850s, for example from Eton College where the term "emergencies" is used.[8] Numerous references to players acting as a "substitute" occur in matches in the mid-1860s[9] where it is not indicated whether these were replacements of absent players or of players injured during the match.

The first use of a substitute in international football was on 15 April 1889, in the match between Wales and Scotland at Wrexham. Wales's original goalkeeper, Jim Trainer, failed to arrive; local amateur player Alf Pugh started the match and played for some 20 minutes until the arrival of Sam Gillam, who took over from him.[10]

While substitution during games was first permitted in 1958,[11] there have been instances of substitution prior. In 1940, in a match between Mandatory Palestine and Lebanon, Mandatory Palestine centre-half Zvi Fuchs was replaced at half-time by Lonia Dvorin following an injury.[12][13] Also during the qualifying phase for the 1954 World Cup, Horst Eckel of Germany is recorded as having been replaced by Richard Gottinger in their match with the Saarland on 11 October 1953.[14] The use of substitutes in World Cup Finals matches was not allowed until the 1970 tournament.[15]

The number of substitutes usable in a competitive match has increased from zero—meaning teams were reduced if players' injuries could not allow them to play on—to one (plus another for an injured goalkeeper) in 1958; to two out of a possible five in 1988. With the later increases in substitutions allowed, the number of potential substitute players increased to seven.[16] The number of substitutes increased to two plus one (injured goalkeeper) in 1994,[17] to three in 1995;[18][19] and most recently to a fourth substitute in certain competitions (starting from UEFA Euro 2016) in extra time.[20]

In 2020, following a proposal from FIFA, the International Football Association Board allowed for competition organisers to temporarily allow for a maximum of five substitutions (with an additional allowed in extra time, where applicable) to be made in official matches for the remainder of the year in order to lessen the impact of fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there will only be three opportunities to make substitutions (with an additional allowed in extra time, where applicable), excluding those made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.[21]

English and Scottish leagues

Substitutions during matches in the English Football League were first permitted in the 1965–66 season. During the first two seasons after the law was introduced, each side was permitted only one substitution during a game. Moreover, the substitute could only replace an injured player. From the 1967–68 season, this rule was relaxed to allow substitutions for tactical reasons.[22]

On 21 August 1965, Keith Peacock of Charlton Athletic became the first substitute used in the Football League when he replaced injured goalkeeper Mike Rose eleven minutes into their away match against Bolton Wanderers.[23] On the same day, Bobby Knox became the first ever substitute to score a goal when he scored for Barrow against Wrexham.[24]

Archie Gemmill of St Mirren was the first substitute to come on in a Scottish first-class match, on 13 August 1966 in a League Cup tie against Clyde when he replaced Jim Clunie after 23 minutes.[22]

The first official substitute in a Scottish League match was Paul Conn for Queen's Park vs Albion Rovers in a Division 2 match on 24 August 1966. Previously, on 20 January 1917, a player called Morgan came on for the injured Morrison of Partick Thistle after 5 minutes against Rangers at Firhill, but this was an isolated case and the Scottish League did not authorise substitutes until 1966.[22]

In later years, the number of substitutes permitted in Football League matches has gradually increased. In 1987, each team was permitted two substitutes in one match. This increased to three in 1994-95 season, though one of them had to be goalkeeper. One season later, the three substitutes can be used for whatever reasons. At present each team is permitted to name either five or seven substitutes depending on the country and competition, of which a maximum of three may be used. In England, the Premier League increased the number of players on the bench to five in 1996, and to seven for the 2008–09 season.[25]

Relevant laws

The assistant referee indicating a substitution

Fourth official notifying the referee of the details of the substitution

Substitutions are governed under Law 3 of the Laws of the Game in the (3) Substitution Procedure section.[26]

A player only be substituted during a stoppage in play and with the permission of the referee. The player to be substituted (outgoing player) must have left the field of play before the substitute (incoming player) may enter the field of play; at that point the substitute becomes a player and the person substituted ceases to be a player. The incoming player only enter the field at the half-way line. Failure to comply with these provisions may be punished by a caution (yellow card).

A player who has been substituted takes no further part in a match.

Unused substitutes still on the bench, as well as players who have been already substituted, remain under the authority of the referee. These are liable for misconduct, though cannot be said to have committed a foul. For example, in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Claudio Caniggia was shown the red card for cursing at the referee from the bench.

Under the Laws of the Game, the referee has no specific power to force a player to be substituted, even if the team manager or captain has ordered their player to be substituted. As Law 3 (3) Substitution Procedure simply states that: "if a player who is to be replaced refuses to leave, play continues." However, in some situations players may still be liable to punishment with a caution (yellow card) if they are perceived to be time wasting or unsporting behaviour by refusing to leave the field of play.

A player who has been sent off (red card) may not be substituted; the team will have to make do with the remaining players. In the case of a goalkeeper who is sent off, such as in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, when Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires was replaced by second-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to replace Jens Lehmann, who received a red card less than 20 minutes into the match, the coach will usually (but is not required to) substitute an outfield player so that the backup goalkeeper can enter the game. If all substitutions have been used, or if no goalkeeper is available, an outfield player will take up the role of the goalkeeper. A famous example of this is when Chelsea goalkeepers Petr Čech and Carlo Cudicini were both injured in the same game, which led to defender John Terry spending the remainder of the match in goal wearing third-choice goalkeeper Hilário's shirt.[27]

According to the Laws of the Game, "up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations." Also:

• In national A team matches, up to a maximum of six substitutes may be used.
• In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used provided that:
  • the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number;
  • the referee is informed before the match.
• If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the match, no more than six substitutes are allowed.

Super-sub

The term "super-sub" refers to a substitution made by the manager that subsequently saves the game, generally by scoring a late equalising or winning goal. Players regarded as "super-subs" include David Fairclough and Divock Origi for Liverpool,[28][29] John Hewitt for Aberdeen,[29][30][31] Adam Le Fondre for Reading,[32] Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Javier Hernández for Manchester United,[33][34][29] Mikael Forssell for Chelsea,[35] Edin Džeko for Manchester City,[36] Brendon Santalab for Western Sydney Wanderers,[37] Henrique for Brisbane Roar,[38] Stevie Kirk for Motherwell,[39] Archie Thompson, Joshua Kennedy and Tim Cahill for Australia,[40][41][42][43][44][45] Fernando Llorente for Tottenham Hotspur,[46][47] Roger Milla for Cameroon,[29] Oliver Bierhoff for Germany[29] and Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd for the United States women's national soccer team.[48][49]

References

1. Press Association (18 March 2016). "Fifa to trial fourth substitute in extra-time at Rio Olympics". The Guardian.
2. Fisher, Ben (27 July 2016). "FA announces plans to introduce fourth substitute during extra time of FA Cup". The Guardian.
3. Media Release (18 March 2016). "FIFA Executive Committee approves key priorities to restore trust in FIFA". FIFA.
4. "Regulations, FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017" (PDF). FIFA.
5. Media Release (16 March 2018). "FIFA Council decides on key steps for the future of international competitions". FIFA.
6. "Champions League 'cup-tied' abolished, UEFA approves fourth sub in extra time". ESPN. 27 March 2018.
7. Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle (London, England), Sunday, February 22, 1863; pg. 7.New Readerships
8. Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle (London, England), Sunday, November 11, 1855; p. 7.
9. Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle (London, England), Saturday, December 17, 1864; Issue 2,226.
10. "Wales 0 Scotland 0". www.londonhearts.com. 15 April 1889. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
11. "History of the Laws of the Game". Fifa.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
12. Shohat, Elisha (2006). 100 שנות כדורגל: 1906–2006 [100 Years of Football: 1906–2006] (in Hebrew). Hod Hasharon. pp. 109–110.
13. "Lebanon outclassed by Palestine selected". The Palestine Post. 30 April 1940. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
14. "Switzerland 1954 : World Cup Football Host". Topendsports.com. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
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20. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-07-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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25. "Premier League ratifies more subs". BBC Sport. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
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27. "Chelsea substitute keeper Carlo Cudicini was stretchered off in a neck brace as the champions beat Reading". BBC. 14 October 2006.
28. "Liverpool FC super-sub David Fairclough suffers heart scare". Liverpool Echo. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
29. 5 of football's finest super-subs, BT Sport, 23 September 2015
30. Hewitt's glory in Gothenburg, UEFA, 19 May 2003
31. Aberdeen's glory in Gothenburg: 30 years on, BBC Sport, 11 May 2013
32. "Adam Le Fondre named Barclays player of the month without starting a game". 6 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
33. "Sizzling super subs". BBC Sport. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
34. Tongue, Steve (12 November 2012). "Javier Hernandez replaces Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United's super-sub". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
35. "Super sub Forssell just Champion for Chelsea". Irish Independent. 7 March 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
36. James, Stuart (21 October 2012). "Edin Dzeko rejects 'super sub' tag after rescuing Manchester City". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
37. Greco, John. "Santa's secret to his super-sub success". A-League. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
38. Bennett, Josh (14 November 2014). "Mulvey lauds super-sub Henrique". A-League.
39. "Stevie Kirk recalls his finest hour". Daily Record. 19 May 2011.
40. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2018-09-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
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43. Lucius, Adam. "Tim Cahill happy to be Ange's 'super sub'". Goal.
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46. Napoli leading Llorente race, Football Italia, 13 August 2019
47. Jose Mourinho and Rio Ferdinand praise super-sub Fernando Llorente, The Boot Room, 9 May 2019
48. Litman, Laken (20 June 2015). "USWNT legend Abby Wambach reflects on her new role as an occasional super sub". For The Win. USA Today. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
49. Peterson, Anne M. (24 May 2019). "USWNT face greater challenges in their quest for 2nd straight World Cup". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 2019-06-03.