Sheff Utd, Villa say allowing five substitutions favours big clubs

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and Aston Villa boss Dean Smith both believe the new rule allowing five substitutes in the remainder of this season's Premier League favours the bigger clubs. Photo: Reuters

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and Aston Villa boss Dean Smith both believe the new rule allowing five substitutes in the remainder of this season's Premier League favours the bigger clubs. Photo: Reuters

Published Jun 15, 2020

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LONDON - Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and Aston Villa

boss Dean Smith both believe the new rule allowing five substitutes

in the remainder of this season's Premier League favours the bigger

clubs.

The rule, which will be introduced when the season resumes on

Wednesday after three months off because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is

intended to help clubs rotate their players in a period of heavy

fixtures.

Teams can also name nine substitutes instead seven.

"I didn't like the fact there was a rule change in the season," Smith

told reporters on Monday. 

"Bigger squads and bigger clubs will benefit from more subs."

Wilder agreed, saying United had voiced their opposition to the rule.

"It favours the powerful clubs," he said. "We don't think that is the

right way to go about it."

Relegation-threatened Villa host United, seventh, in the first match

after the resumption on Wednesday.

dpa

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