Substitute ( association football ) - wikipedia Substitute ( association football ) The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United Kingdom and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. ( December 2010 ) The substitute bench of the national team of Argentina. In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is performing poorly, or for tactical reasons ( such as bringing a striker on in place of a defender ). Unlike some sports ( such as American football or ice hockey or Kabaddi ), a player who has been substituted during a match may take no further part in it. Most competitions only allow each team to make a maximum of three substitutions during a game, although more substitutions are often permitted in non-competitive fixtures such as friendlies. Allowing a fourth substitution in extra time is currently being trialed at several tournaments, including the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. A fourth substitute in extra time has been approved for use in the knockout rounds at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Each team nominates a number of players ( typically between five and seven, depending on the competition ) who may be used as substitutes ; these players typically sit in the technical area with the coaches, and are said to be `` on the bench ''. When the substitute enters the field of play it is said they have come on or have been brought on, while the player they are substituting is coming off or being brought off. A player who is noted for frequently making appearances, or scoring important goals, as a substitute is often informally known as a `` super sub ''. Contents 1 History 2 English and Scottish leagues 3 Relevant laws 4 Super-sub 5 References History The origin of football substitutes goes back to at least the early 1860s as part of English public school football games. The original use of the term `` substitute '' in football was to describe the replacement of players who failed to turn up for matches. For example, in 1863, a match reports states : `` The Charterhouse eleven played a match in cloisters against some old Carthusians but in consequence of the non-appearance of some of those who were expected it was necessary to provide three substitutes. '' The substitution of absent players happened as early as the 1850s, for example from Eton College where the term `` emergencies '' is used. Numerous references to players acting as a `` substitute '' occur in matches in the mid-1860s where it is not indicated whether these were replacements of absent players or of players injured during the match. The first use of a substitute in international football was on 15 April 1889, in the match between Wales and Scotland at Wrexham. Wales 's original goalkeeper, Jim Trainer, failed to arrive ; local amateur player Alf Pugh started the match and played for some 20 minutes until the arrival of Sam Gillam, who took over from him. Substitution during games was first permitted in 1958. ( Although as early as the qualifying phase for the 1954 World Cup, Horst Eckel of Germany is recorded as having been replaced by Richard Gottinger in their match with the Saarland on 11 October 1953. ) The use of substitutes in World Cup Finals matches was not allowed until the 1970 tournament. The number of substitutes usable in a competitive match has increased from zero -- meaning teams were reduced if players ' injuries could not allow them to play on -- to one ( plus another for an injured goalkeeper ) in 1958 ; to two out of a possible five in 1988. With the later increases in substitutions allowed, the number of potential substitute players increased to seven. The number of substitutes increased to two plus one ( injured goalkeeper ) in 1994, to three in 1995 ; and most recently to a fourth substitute in certain competitions in extra time. English and Scottish leagues Substitutions during matches in the English Football League were first permitted in the 1965 -- 66 season. During the first two seasons after the law was introduced, each side was permitted only one substitution during a game. Moreover, the substitute could only replace an injured player. From the 1967 -- 68 season, this rule was relaxed to allow substitutions for tactical reasons. On 21 August 1965, Keith Peacock of Charlton Athletic became the first substitute used in the Football League when he replaced injured goalkeeper Mike Rose eleven minutes into their away match against Bolton Wanderers. On the same day, Bobby Knox became the first ever substitute to score a goal when he scored for Barrow against Wrexham. Archie Gemmill of St Mirren was the first substitute to come on in a Scottish first - class match, on 13 August 1966 in a League Cup tie against Clyde when he replaced Jim Clunie after 23 minutes. The first official substitute in a Scottish League match was Paul Conn for Queen 's Park vs Albion Rovers in a Division 2 match on 24 August 1966. Previously, on 20 January 1917, a player called Morgan came on for the injured Morrison of Partick Thistle after 5 minutes against Rangers at Firhill, but this was an isolated case and the Scottish League did not authorise substitutes until 1966. In later years, the number of substitutes permitted in Football League matches has gradually increased ; at present each team is permitted to name either five or seven substitutes depending on the country and competition, of which a maximum of three may be used. In England, the Premier League increased the number of players on the bench to five in 1996, and it was announced that the number available on the bench would be seven for the 2008 -- 09 season. Relevant Laws The assistant referee indicating a substitution Fourth official notifying the referee of the details of the substitution According to the Laws of the Game ( 2014 / 15 ) : A player may only be substituted during a stoppage in play and with the permission of the referee. The player to be substituted ( outgoing player ) must have left the field of play before the substitute ( incoming player ) may enter the field of play ; at that point the substitute becomes a player and the person substituted ceases to be a player. The incoming player may only enter the field at the half - way line. Failure to comply with these provisions may be punished by a caution ( yellow card ). A player who has been substituted may take no further part in a match. Unused substitutes still on the bench, as well as players who have been already substituted, remain under the authority of the referee. These are liable for misconduct, though can not be said to have committed a foul. For example, in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Claudio Caniggia was shown the red card for cursing at the referee from the bench. Under the Laws, the referee has no specific power to force a player to be substituted, even if the team manager or captain has ordered their player to be substituted. If a player refuses to be substituted play may simply resume with that player on the field. However, in some situations players may still be liable to punishment with a caution ( yellow card ) for time wasting or unsporting behaviour. A player who has been sent off ( red card ) may not be substituted ; the team will have to make do with the remaining players. In the case of a goalkeeper who is sent off, such as in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, when Arsenal midfielder Robert Pirès was replaced by second - choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to replace Jens Lehmann, who received a red card less than 20 minutes into the match, the coach will usually ( but is not required to ) substitute an outfield player so that the backup goalkeeper can enter the game. If all substitutions have been used, or if no goalkeeper is available, an outfield player will take up the role of the goalkeeper. A famous example of this is when Chelsea goalkeepers Petr Čech and Carlo Cudicini were both injured in the same game, which led to defender John Terry spending the remainder of the match in goal wearing third - choice goalkeeper Hilário 's shirt. According to the Laws of the Game, `` up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations. '' Also : In national A team matches, up to a maximum of six substitutes may be used. In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used provided that : the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number ; the referee is informed before the match. If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the match, no more than six substitutes are allowed. Super-sub The term `` super-sub '' refers to a substitution made by the manager that subsequently saves the game, generally by scoring a late equalising or winning goal. Players regarded as `` super-subs '' include Tupãzinho and Dinei for Corinthians, Azar Karadas for Brann, Santiago Solari for Real Madrid, Nwankwo Kanu for Arsenal, David Fairclough for Liverpool, Adam Le Fondre for Reading, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Javier Hernández for Manchester United, Mikael Forssell for Chelsea, Leon Clarke for Wigan Athletic, Brendon Santalab for Western Sydney Wanderers Henrique for Brisbane Roar, Stevie Kirk for Motherwell,, Archie Thompson, Joshua Kennedy and Tim Cahill for Australia. 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New Readerships Jump up ^ Bell 's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle ( London, England ), Sunday, November 11, 1855 ; p. 7. Jump up ^ Bell 's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle ( London, England ), Saturday, December 17, 1864 ; Issue 2,226. Jump up ^ `` Wales 0 Scotland 0 ''. www.londonhearts.com. 15 April 1889. Retrieved 17 December 2011. Jump up ^ `` History of the Laws of the Game ''. Fifa.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` Switzerland 1954 : World Cup Football Host ''. Topendsports.com. Retrieved 2009 - 10 - 25. Jump up ^ `` FIFA World Cup : Milestones, facts & figures. Statistical Kit 7 '' ( PDF ). FIFA. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 21 May 2013. Jump up ^ Taylor Rash ( 3 July 2014 ). `` FIFA World Cup : FIFA Considering Fourth Substitution in Extra Time ''. Guardian Liberty Voice. Retrieved 7 January 2015. Jump up ^ Mark Mitchener ( 17 June 2014 ). `` World Cup 2014 : Golden goals, golf carts and other innovations ''. BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2015. Jump up ^ Mitch Phillips ( 5 November 2007 ). `` Substitute the subs rule ? ''. Reuters Soccer Blog. Reuters. Retrieved 7 January 2015. Jump up ^ History of the Laws of the Game - 1990 - 2000, FIFA.com. Jump up ^ http://www.concacaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/170301_GC-Regulations-Final_EN.pdf ^ Jump up to : `` Football Trivia ''. Soccerhistory.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2012 - 11 - 02. Retrieved 2009 - 10 - 25. Jump up ^ Ingle, Sean ( 25 July 2001 ). `` What ever happened to Len Shackleton 's old club ? ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 January 2015. Jump up ^ Batty, Clive ( 2010 ). The Vision Book of Football Records 2011. Vision Sports. p. 174. ISBN 978 - 1 - 905326 - 99 - 0. Jump up ^ `` Premier League ratifies more subs ''. BBC Sport. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2015. Jump up ^ http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/footballdevelopment/refereeing/02/36/01/11/27_06_2014_new--lawsofthegameweben_neutral.pdf Jump up ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5415980.stm Jump up ^ `` Liverpool FC super-sub David Fairclough suffers heart scare ''. Liverpool Echo. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Adam Le Fondre named Barclays player of the month without starting a game ''. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2012. Jump up ^ `` Sizzling super subs ''. BBC Sport. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 22 October 2012. Jump up ^ Tongue, Steve ( 12 November 2012 ). `` Javier Hernandez replaces Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United 's super-sub ''. The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2012. Jump up ^ `` Super sub Forssell just Champion for Chelsea ''. Irish Independent. 7 March 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2015. Jump up ^ James, Stuart ( 21 October 2012 ). `` Edin Dzeko rejects ' super sub ' tag after rescuing Manchester City ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2012. Jump up ^ Greco, John. `` Santa 's secret to his super-sub success ''. A-League. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 10 February 2016. Jump up ^ http://www.a-league.com.au/article/mulvey-lauds-super-sub-henrique/zqg1amor5oiu15nfb3o8g7wrv Jump up ^ http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/stevie-kirk-recalls-finest-hour-2570895 Jump up ^ http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1156317/Thompson-relishes-super-sub-role Jump up ^ http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/43970/super-sub-josh-kennedy-has-socceroos-headed-for-world-cup/ Jump up ^ http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2013/06/18/super-sub-kennedy-sends-australia-brazil Jump up ^ http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4020/australia/2013/11/20/4418870/tim-cahill-happy-to-be-anges-super-sub Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 06 - 06. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/tim-cahill-happy-to-play-role-of-impact-sub-after-coming-on-to-score-against-costa-rica/story-fni2wcjl-1226764604058 Jump up ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-11-01/super-sub--tim-cahill-celebrates-scoring-the/712890 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Substitute_(association_football)&oldid=846430041 '' Categories : Association football terminology Hidden categories : CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from January 2018 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with limited geographic scope from December 2010 United Kingdom - centric Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Simple English Edit links This page was last edited on 18 June 2018, at 18 : 53. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: how many players are on the bench in football
Answer: seven