Brentford have been issued a three-point deduction in the U21 Professional Development League (PDL) after using an extra substitution window during their fixture against Hull City in August.
A sanction agreement was published by the Premier League on Friday detailing Brentford’s breach of Law 3 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, which states a maximum of five substitutions can be made over a maximum of three “substitution opportunities” (excluding half-time).
Per Brentford’s website, their Under-21 team, managed by Sam Saunders, made five substitutions at four different stages of the second half (minutes 54, 70, 86 and 90+4). It was their final change — when Gregory Asemokhai replaced the injured Josh Stephenson in second-half added time — which constituted the breach. Hull were 1-0 up at the time.
The introduction of Asemokhai meant Brentford continued with 11 players, with the sanction agreement noting that they should have been reduced to 10, having used all their possible substitution opportunities.
The five-substitution law was reintroduced permanently to the Premier League from the start of the 2022-23 season, having initially been introduced when the Premier League returned in May 2020 following the hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following the “non-compliant substitution”, Brentford forward Ethan Laidlaw, who had been introduced in the 54th minute, scored an equaliser, meaning both sides shared the points on the opening day of the season. As a result, the sanction agreement says Brentford’s non-compliant substitution had a “direct sporting impact on the match.”
An immediate three-point suspension has been issued to Brentford alongside a suspended £5,000 fine, which will only be activated upon another breach of U21 PDL rules. The club have “admitted and apologised” for the breach, adding it “was not purposefully committed.”
The written agreement also said Brentford confirmed they will educate the team “about the importance of adhering to the U21 PDL rules.”
Following the points deduction, Brentford fall from fourth in the U21 PFL South table to seventh, with 17 points after 11 matches. They won the title last season with a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth in the knockout final, having finished level on points but below them on goal difference in the league campaign.
