10 Rule Changes That Should Be Made In Sport

Competitive football matches used to be played without the use of substitutions but over time, managers have been permitted to make as many as three changes per game.

That is generally considered to be an acceptable amount but given that the worldwide schedule is only growing more hectic, it is time for FIFA to permit the use of an extra replacement.

The main benefit of this would be to reduce injuries through fatigue. The more minutes a player features on the pitch, the greater chance of serious injury and it would allow managers more flexibility in how they use their substitutes when they are required to alter their tactics during a match.

Extra time could also be played with one less player battling through both the pain barrier and exhaustion in order to complete a game. There have been cases in the past where teams have given everything to deny their opponents over the course of 90 minutes but why should they be punished for their players being unable to last another 30 minutes?

No plans for such a rule have been made public but the topic of an extra substitute surely comes up in annual meetings around the globe. It's time for the trigger to be pulled on the idea.