BERN (REUTERS) - Fifa has proposed that teams should be allowed to make up to five substitutions per match, instead of the usual three, as a temporary measure, the global football governing body said on Monday (April 27).

It said the idea was to help deal with possible fixture congestion, as leagues attempt to complete the season in a short space of time once play starts again in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis.

The proposal would have to be approved by the sport's rule-making body Ifab and the final decision would rest with competition organisers, Fifa added in an e-mailed statement to Reuters.

"One concern in this regard is that the higher-than-normal frequency of matches may increase the risk of potential injuries due to a resulting player overload.

"Each team would now be given the possibility to use up to five substitutions during the match, with the possibility of an additional substitution remaining during extra time, where relevant," it said.

Fifa added that the substitutions would have to be made in a maximum of three slots plus the half-time interval.

The measure would apply to this season and next season plus all international matches until Dec 31 next year.

Fifa said that "football should only resume when the health authorities and governments say it is absolutely safe and non-disruptive of health services being delivered to the populations".