Covid-19: VAR could be suspended, teams allowed five substitutes as FIFA proposal accepted by IFAB

Premier League - Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur - Carrow Road, Norwich, Britain - December 28, 2019, General view as the big screen displays a VAR review message. [REUTERS/Chris Radburn ]

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology could be dropped by leagues when seasons resume globally.

The technology could be temporarily cut, with football returning at a difficult time when it may not always be possible to implement the same technology as before the coronavirus pandemic took centre stage.

"In relation to competitions in which the video assistant referee (VAR) system is implemented, these competitions are permitted to cease its use upon restart at the discretion of each individual competition organiser.

"However, where VAR is used, all aspects of the Laws of the Game and, by extension, the VAR protocol will remain in place,” the International Football Association Board (IFAB) said in a statement on Friday.

Football law-makers also approved FIFA's plan to let teams make up to five substitutions in a match to protect players as Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc.

The world football governing body proposed the change from three substitutions to five as a move to protect player welfare.

IFAB concurred with the proposal, but the new law will be applicable only in competitions scheduled to finish by the end of this year.

"For competitions which have either started or are intended to start, but are scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2020, the IFAB has approved FIFA's proposal to introduce a temporary amendment to Law 3 – The Players, which will allow for a maximum of five substitutes to be made per team.

"However, to avoid disruption to the game, each team will only have three opportunities to make substitutions; substitutions may also be made at half-time.

"The temporary amendment comes into force with immediate effect and has been made as matches may be played in a condensed period in different weather conditions, both of which could have impacts on player welfare.

"The decision on whether to apply this temporary amendment will remain at the discretion of each individual competition organiser, while the IFAB and FIFA will determine at a later stage whether this temporary amendment would need to be extended further (e.g. for competitions due to be completed in 2021),” read part of IFAB’s statement.

Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018, Manchester United's Scott McTominay prepares to come on as a substitute. [Reuters/Andrew Boyers]

IFAB is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football.

It was founded in 1886 to agree on standardised Laws for international competitions and has since acted as the "guardian" of the internationally used Laws.

Since its establishment in 1904, FIFA, the sport's top governing body, has recognised IFAB's jurisdiction over the Laws.

Germany’s top tier football league, Bundesliga is set to resume from May 16, the German Football Association confirmed on Thursday, May 7.

The league will become the first in Europe’s top to resume following the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the DFL said the season would resume under strict health protocols, with fans banned from entering stadiums.