How many substitutes can be named and used?
Rule- South Africa
- PSL
- NSL Handbook
- IFAB Laws of the Game
- Betway Premiership
- Motsepe Foundation Championship
- Senior
- 2026/27
- Fourth officials
- Match officials
Named: the PSL team sheet lists the 11 starters and 9 substitutes (NSL Handbook Rule 16.2). A substitute not named before kick-off cannot take part (Law 3.3).
Used: Law 3.2 (2026/27) caps substitutes at five in any official competition, with the exact number set by the competition. Where a top-division competition allows five, each team has:
- a maximum of three substitution opportunities during play
- plus substitutions at half-time, which do not use up an opportunity
If both teams substitute at the same stoppage, it counts as an opportunity used by each. Several substitutions by one team at the same stoppage count as one opportunity.
Extra time (cup ties): unused substitutes and opportunities carry over. In the Carling Knockout, each club may also use one extra substitute and one extra opportunity in extra time (competition rule 6.3).
Concussion substitutes are a separate Laws option that applies only where the competition rules adopt it.
Added 21 Oct 2026