Match basics
Substitutions
Substitutions are the main way managers change a team during a match. The rules around them have changed several times in recent years, with many competitions now allowing more changes than older football fans were used to.
How substitutions work
A substitution is a swap of one player on the pitch for one player on the team's bench.
A substitution must be made at a stoppage in play and with the referee's permission. The player coming off must usually leave the pitch at the nearest point on the boundary line, unless the referee allows or directs them to leave at the halfway line or another point for safety, security or injury reasons.
In senior professional football, once a player is substituted, they cannot return to the pitch in the same match. The substitute normally enters at the halfway line after the player being replaced has left and the referee has signalled for the change. The substitution is complete when the substitute enters the field of play.
How many substitutes are allowed
The number of substitutions allowed has grown over the years and now varies by competition.
For many years, top-level matches allowed three substitutes. Most major competitions now allow five substitutes, usually across up to three substitution opportunities or "windows" during normal time. A team can make more than one change in the same window, and substitutions made at half-time do not normally count towards the three windows.
Knockout matches that go to extra time often allow an additional substitute and, depending on the competition rules, an extra substitution opportunity during the extra-time period.
Concussion substitutes
Concussion substitutes are an additional kind of substitution used in competitions that have adopted the relevant player-safety protocol.
Where a competition uses IFAB's additional permanent concussion substitution protocol, each team may use one extra concussion substitute when a player has, or is suspected to have, a concussion. The substitution can be made even if a team has already used all of its normal substitutes, and the player who comes off cannot return.
Under that protocol, when one team uses a concussion substitute, the opposing team is also given the option of one additional substitute and one additional substitution opportunity, to keep the match balanced.
Common substitution situations
Substitutions are usually made for a small number of clear reasons.
Tactical changes
Bringing on a different type of player to change how the team attacks or defends.
Tiredness
Replacing a player who has covered a lot of ground, especially late in the match.
Protecting a player
Taking off a player who has been booked or who is at risk of injury.
Injuries
Replacing a player who cannot continue safely.
What happens after a substitution
A substituted player has a few short rules to follow.
The substituted player must leave the pitch quickly and cannot delay the restart. From the 2026/27 Laws of the Game, substituted players are expected to leave within 10 seconds of the substitution board being shown, or the referee's signal if there is no board, unless this is not possible for safety, security or injury reasons. Excessive delay can lead to a yellow card, and the incoming substitute may have to wait until the first stoppage after one minute of play has elapsed.
The substitute coming on must be ready before the referee waves them on. They cannot enter the pitch until the player being replaced has left and the referee has given permission. Once the substitute enters the field of play, they become a player and the replaced player becomes a substituted player who can take no further part in play, although they remain under the referee's authority.
What to read next
Substitutions affect tactics and how matches are managed, especially late in games.