Astoria Walldorf becomes 1st team in Germany to make 4th substitution
Thanks to Astoria Walldorf, it is time to turn the page in footballing substitute history.
The fourth-tier German side played against Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday, when Benjamin Hofmann became the first player to appear as a fourth substitute in Germany.
The match went to extra time - opening up the option for either team to introduce a fourth substitute - and Astoria Walldorf did not hesitate to utilise the new rule.
Back in December, the German FA stated that clubs in the DFB-Pokal would be able to introduce a fourth player in extra time as part of a process geared toward changing some of the existing laws.
Kombe la DFB Pokal la Ujerumani limetangaza sheria ya kuruhusu timu kufanya sub ya wachezaji 4 wakati mchezo ukienda dakika 30 za nyongeza. pic.twitter.com/anxHQcYXvl
— millard ayo (@millardayo) December 2, 2016
"I think it's a good idea. If something happens in extra time, a player gets injured for instance, it has an influence on the match if you have already made three changes," European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Sport Bild, according to ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld.
In the summer of 2016, UEFA announced that teams playing in the sixth round or later of the FA Cup will be allowed to use a fourth substitute during extra time.
Related: FA Cup to trial use of 4th substitute in extra time of later rounds
The FA Cup is currently in the fourth round, concluding with the replay of Derby versus Leicester City on Wednesday.
Expect to see at least a few more teams deploy four substitutes in extra time come May.