Seven team officials, one of whom must be a team doctor, and 12 substitute players are allowed to sit on the substitutes’ bench, i.e. a total of 19 persons. The names of all these persons and their functions must be listed on the match sheet.
If space so permits, up to eight additional technical seats are allowed for club staff providing technical support to the team during the match (kit manager, assistant physiotherapist, etc.). Such seats must be outside the technical area, behind or to the side of the benches but with access to the dressing rooms. The names of all these persons and their functions must be listed on the match sheet. The clubs may agree on additional seats in the stands for additional technical staff, but as minimum the home club must, on request, provide the away club with five seats in the stand with easy access to the technical zone.
During the match, substitutes are allowed to leave the technical area to warm up. The referee determines exactly where they may warm up (behind the first assistant referee or behind the advertising boards behind the goal) and how many substitutes are allowed to warm up simultaneously. In principle, three substitutes per team are allowed to warm up at the same time; however, if space so permits, the referee can allow additional substitutes from each team to warm up simultaneously in the determined area. The team fitness coach indicated on the match sheet may join the players warming up and is responsible for ensuring the referee’s instructions are respected.
Smoking is not allowed in the technical area during matches.
The use of any electronic communication equipment and/or systems is regulated by the IFAB Laws of the Game and the relevant instructions issued. Under no circumstances may any such systems be used by teams in connection with any kind of refereeing decision or matter.