A SURVEY CONDUCTED by the World Players’ Union FIFPro has found that 84 per cent of players are in favour of allowing a fourth substitution to be used during matches.
Football’s rule making body the International Football Association Board has twice rejected proposals that would allow an extra substitute to be used during extra time, the most recent of these being in February of this year.
FIFPro said on its Twitter account that 244 players from 27 countries took part in the survey and 39 said they were against a fourth substitution while 205 supported the idea.
Of those 205 players in favour, 119 said they would like a fourth substitute to be allowed in extra time and 86 players wanted the fourth substitute to be allowed during the 90 minutes.
“The response to our survey is overwhelming; whether only applied to extra-time or during the regulation 90 minutes, professional footballers worldwide surveyed by FIFPro see a need to add a fourth substitute,” said FIFPro Secretary General Theo van Seggelen in a statement released by the union.
“It’s a position that will challenge traditional views, but the players have one of the most important roles in this debate.
“Our research is representative of players on all continents and they have clearly shown a preference for the game to evolve and show greater flexibility, especially during matches that go to extra time.”
Would you be in favour of the IFAB allowing a fourth substitute to be used during normal or extra time?
Must say I love this new format. Three cracking games ahead today. You’d be waiting around for weeks to see a decent game any other year.
@Mike: for me it just doesn’t have the championship game feel. Not a lot of hype for the games. Much prefer the knockout format.
@Patrick Corbett: Ara things were gone very stale. The buzz was gone way back since the great days of 1995-2005. Even last summer, there was only a very small Clare crowd at the Munster final. Cork’s resurgent support made up for it. Two years ago, there was just 26,000 at the Munster Final in Limerick. The Clare-Waterford semi-final had 19,000. None of the two other games in Munster broke 30,000. People were tired of it. We’ve rose-tinted glasses when it comes to change. This new format is the job.
@Mike: we’re spoiled for games now mike. long may it last. another great Sunday of hurling!
Michael Ryan can relax, he has only one interview left for the year
Waiting for how long for a championship match in Galway and they produce a pitch like that
Anto Nash is some goalie
Would it be too much to ask to put the scores at the top of the page – jeez!
Do a usability course
That pitch in Salthill is very poor, what were they doing on it, ploughing?
@Victor Sonovich: Ed Sheeran was on it two weeks ago.
2 cracking games to look forward to, As a neutral it’s tipp and Galway for me to win today.
@Conor Noonan: Tipp look to have no interest,very disappointing first half from them,
Unfortunately it looks like we’ll be blessed to even get out of the round robin format this year – disappointed Waterford fan
Wasn’t so long ago they were calling for john meyler to be sacked after just a handful of games.now his corks prodigy in the championship