Cobblers could be allowed to make five subs if season resumes

Cobblers could be allowed to make up to five substitutions per game if the 2019-20 football season resumes under new proposals being considered by FIFA.

The international governing body of football have stated teams will be given 'temporary dispensation' to swap five players to help with the workload should clubs be faced with a hectic schedule, as is likely, when the season gets up and running again.

The dispensation can be implemented by organisers for competitions scheduled until the end of the 2021 season, although a Fifa spokesman has told BBC Sport that 'health comes first' and no competition is 'worth risking a single human life'.

They added: "Football should only resume when the health authorities and governments say it is absolutely safe and non-disruptive of health services being delivered to the populations.

"Safety of the players is one of Fifa's main priorities. One concern in this regard is that the higher-than-normal frequency of matches may increase the risk of potential injuries due to a resulting player overload."

The proposal will need to be approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), football's rule-making body, and whether it is implemented is then at the discretion of the relevant competition organiser.

The statement continued that five substitutions would be allowable within a maximum of three slots, as well as during half-time, with the possibility of an additional sixth substitution in extra-time also remaining.