Some are already calling, more or less seriously, to replay this World Cup final. But Didier Deschamps took advantage of a new point in the regulations to make more substitutions than usual.
In the euphoria that surrounded the penalty shootout – which will prove fatal to the Blues – in the World Cup final on Sunday, some were surprised that Didier Deschamps made a final change in the 120th minute of the match.
Jules Koundé was replaced by Axel Disasi, while the French coach had already made six substitutions during the match, leaving Ousmane Dembélé, Olivier Giroud, Théo Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot and Raphaël Varane. Did he have the right to make a seventh?
Normally, the selections are entitled to six changes per match according to the new regulations introduced due to the Covid, and definitively ratified last June by the International Board (Ifab), guardian of the laws of football.
In detail, five substitutions are allowed in regular time, and a sixth is also allowed in the event of extra time. This was the case after the 3-3 draw after regulation time between Messi’s Albiceleste and the Blues.
Concussion Protocol
However, Ifab has decided to extend its trials on an additional change in the event of a concussion until August 2023, leaving Fifa to maintain its traditional protocol in the face of a cranial shock. Indeed, IFAB circular no. 21 clearly states that FIFA has established a protocol through which “each team will be able to use a maximum of one concussion substitution per game” and that this replacement “may be carried out independently of the number of substitutes already used elsewhere”.
This was precisely the case for France since Adrien Rabiot was placed in concussion protocol after a shock during the match, and replaced in the 96th minute. The coach of the France team was therefore in his right. Just like Argentina winning the World Cup.