National teams will be allowed to take 26 players to Euro 2020 instead of the standard 23-man squads, UEFA have confirmed.
New regulations have also been put in place to allow goalkeepers to be replaced before each match during the tournament, even if other goalkeepers from the squad list are available.
The changes have arrived as UEFA hope to ease pressure on players and managers following a congested season due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Euro 2020 is scheduled to begin on Friday 11 June with Italy hosting Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
? #EURO2020 squads will feature up to 26 players.
? Squad lists will be submitted on 1 June, but teams will be able to make unlimited replacements in case of serious injury or illness before the first match. Goalkeepers can be replaced ahead of each match.
Full details: ⬇️
— UEFA (@UEFA) May 4, 2021
Squad size update
UEFA have decided to increase the player list for all participating teams from 23 players to 26 players.
However, only 23 players will be allowed to be named on the match sheet for each individual fixture, including three goalkeepers, as IFAB regulations permit a maximum of 12 substitutes for international matches.
A UEFA statement said: “To mitigate the risks of teams facing a shortage of available players for certain matches due to possible positive COVID-19 tests results and subsequent quarantine measures ordered by competent authorities, it has been decided to exceptionally increase the player list for all participating teams to 26 players.
“However, 23 players shall remain the maximum number permitted on the match sheet for each individual match (in accordance with Law 3 of the IFAB Laws of the Game permitting a maximum of 12 substitutes to be named for A-national team matches), including three goalkeepers.
New goalkeeper rule
The new rules also say that the goalkeepers in a squad list can be replaced ahead of every match of the tournament.
That is the case as long as they have a serious injury or illness. UEFA clarified that someone who tests positive for COVID-19 or is a close contact of someone who does would be regarded as someone with a serious illness.
There are no further restrictions to this rule. A swap can be made even if both of the other goalkeepers from a nation’s player list would be able to play in the game.
The only other tweak is that a player who has been replaced cannot be added back onto the player list.
The tournament, which had been scheduled to take place last summer, begins on 11 June. The deadline for submitting squads is 1 June.
England manager Gareth Southgate is expected to announce his squad during the week commencing 24 May.
