The changes in rules and protocols Portsmouth will adopt for play-off with Oxford

The Blues play host to the U’s at Fratton Park on Friday, July 3, before travelling to the Kassam Stadium on Monday, July 3.

The winner will earn the right to play either Wycombe or Fleetwood in the play-off final on Monday, July 13, with the change of guidelines also applying to that Wembley fixture.

The alterations to the rules will only apply for the remainder of the season, with tonight’s League Two play-off semi-final between Colchester and Exeter the first to adopt the new rulings.

Here’s the changes to rules and protocols as outlined by the EFL:

SubstitutionsOne of the rule changes include the number of substitutes used during a match which will increase from three to five players.

• Each team will have a maximum of three opportunities to make substitutions.

• If both teams make a substitution at the same time, this will count as one of the three opportunities for each team.

• In a normal 90 minute fixture, once all three opportunities have been used, no further substitutions can be made.

• Unused substitutions and opportunities are carried forward into extra-time, where applicable.

• Where competition rules allow an additional substitution in extra-time, teams will each have one additional substitution opportunity; substitutions may also be made before the start of extra-time and at half-time in extra-time.

Temporary Loan Transfers• A maximum of six players registered on a Temporary Loan Transfer can be named on a team sheet.

• This maximum shall reduce to five Players where a club names a player on the team sheet who is registered on an Emergency Goalkeeper Loan.

• Maximum of five players on a Temporary Loan Transfer permitted on the field of play at one time.Walkout Protocol• Players and match official entry will be staggered onto the pitch.

• There will be no handshakes. Players to take up on-pitch positions in the same half as they warmed up ready for kick-off.Match-day Behaviour• Social distancing measures should be maintained whenever possible, including during goal celebrations, in the warm-up, when entering and leaving the pitch, and at all times with the match officials.Techinical Area• Those in the technical area must behave in a responsible manner and maintain social distancing measures with the fourth official.Pre-match ActivityThe EFL and its clubs will stand together in solidarity against racial discrimination through a powerful online video campaign to say we do not and will not accept prejudice, not today or any day.

Players from EFL clubs returning to play this week will take part in the videos that will be issued across multiple platforms, to demand more from each other; more inclusion, respect and equality and offer support to our colleagues, friends and members of the wider community who continue to be subjected to unacceptable forms of discrimination.

In addition, the EFL will also say thank you to NHS key workers at fixtures across this weekend.

Players will wear shirts featuring an ‘NHS Rainbow – Thank You’ emblem and a period of applause will take place prior to all matches from June 18-21.