Zambia Super League and National Division One team will be allowed to make five substitutions during a match as the top two leagues in the current are set to resume this weekend.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Referees Manager Aziph Banda confirmed the development to FAZ media. The teams will however have to make the changes only three times during a match or at half time.
“As you may be aware that FIFA amended certain laws of the game to accommodate a fair playing ground to teams as they return to the field of play during this period of the pandemic. After going through the amendments, note that it is not all the changes that will be adopted by ourselves but only the one affecting the number of substitutes,” he said.
“Teams will be allowed a maximum of five substitutions to be made in one match. However, to avoid disruption to the game each team will only have three opportunities to make. Substitutions may also be made at half time. Unused substitutions and opportunities are carried forward into extra time.”
“Where competition rules allow an additional substitution in extra time, teams will each have one additional substitution opportunity. Substitutions may also be made before the start of extra time and at half time in each extra time,” he added.
Banda went on to confirm that the seating arrangement of the technical bench will have to rearranged and that the referees will work closely with the ministry of health staff and stadium personnel in implementing the provided guidelines.
“The seating arrangements of the technical benches should be adjusted to allow maintaining the one-meter space rule,” he said.
The International Football Association Board (The IFAB) agreed to make the temporary amendment to the Laws of the Game back in May based on a proposal received from FIFA seeking to protect player welfare.
The MTN/FAZ Super League and the Eden University/FAZ National Division One make a return this Saturday after a month COVID-19 induced break.
On Saturday Kitwe United will take on Police College in a lunchtime kick-off while Forest Rangers host Zanaco in a 15:00 kick-off at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. On Sunday, Zesco United faces Kansanshi Dynamos in a 13:00 hours kick-off while Buildcon will host Power Dynamos at 15:00 hours.
All the games will be played behind closed doors with SuperSport beaming the matches live.
