According to a Yahoo Sports report, the coaching advisers of FIFA are considering increasing the role of substitute during World Cup matches. It has been said that the coaching advisers will be proposing the allowance of a fourth substitute in extra time.
Substitute players have shone since the beginning of the tournament. Overall, substitutes have reportedly scored a record 29 goals in Brazil with eight more matches left to be played. The previous record was during the 2006 tournament in Germany at 23 goals, FIFA said.
Member Gerard Houllier of the FIFA technical study group said on Wednesday at a briefing, "I think that's an idea that we will put (to football's rules-making panel). It's a good idea. Only in extra time. Maybe if someone is injured, why not?"
He also added, "Substitutes play such an important part because they come with a freshness and attitude. Nearly a quarter of (all) the goals have been scored in the final 15 minutes of the game."
The Netherlands, for one, will surely give their vote on the proposal, if given the chance. It could be recalled that substitute player Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made an all-important equalizer late in the game when his team were losing to Mexico at 1-0 during their Round of 16 match. Huntelaar's goal in the 88th minute, and then scored the stoppage-time penalty, launching the team into the quarterfinals.
Belgium would also be another country who would agree with the proposal. On Monday, substitute Romelu Lukaku aided Kevin De Bruyne to break the initially hard-to-break defense of US goalkeeper Tim Howard in extra time. Lukaku scored the second goal, which led the Belgians winning the game and advancing them to the quarterfinals.
Yahoo Sports said that the substitute proposal is nothing new. It first emerged during the panel's annual meeting back in March 2012, but plans to approve the proposal fell through when FIFA withdrew it.
