Law 4 equipment explained: What the Premier League rules say
By Arasi Rex · Updated 15 August 2026 · 5 min read
Law 4 equipment in football covers what players wear, but the verified Premier League reference facts supplied for this article do not contain those on-pitch clothing and safety clauses. That matters because the rules you can actually plan around are the ones in the source data: squad registration, homegrown quotas, substitution limits, and the tiebreakers that settle the table. Here is what the data confirms, and what it does not.
How it works
Law 4 equipment works at two levels: the global law text and the Premier League's application. This explainer uses only the supplied source data, so it sticks to the application. The Premier League is a 20-club competition in which each team plays 38 matches, home and away, for 380 matches per season. A win is worth three points, a draw one. The bottom three are relegated to the Championship, and three clubs come up: two automatically and one via the play-off.
Squad registration works like an equipment list. Each club can name 25 players over the age of 21. At least eight of those must be homegrown, meaning they were trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21. Under-21 players do not count against the 25, so clubs can add younger players on top.
On a matchday, the tactical equipment is substitutions: five per match, made in a maximum of three windows plus half-time. That limits how much a manager can change a game, and it is a hard rule in the data.
Key details
The league table is settled by a precise order of tiebreakers, not by looking at one stat.
| Priority | Tiebreaker |
|---|---|
| 1 | Points |
| 2 | Goal difference |
| 3 | Goals scored |
| 4 | Head-to-head record |
If teams are still level and the position decides the title, relegation, or European qualification, a play-off at a neutral venue may be used.
The league was founded on 20 February 1992 as the FA Premier League, when the First Division clubs broke away to negotiate their own broadcast deals. The first season was 1992/93 with 22 clubs, reduced to 20 in 1995/96.
European qualification follows a standard structure. The top four go to the Champions League league phase. Fifth place and the FA Cup winner go to the Europa League. The League Cup winner goes to the Conference League play-off. Additional Champions League places can be earned through UEFA coefficient performance. Cup winners who have already qualified through the league pass the place down.
The squad rules are the other key detail. The 25-player list is for players over 21, and at least eight of them must be homegrown. Under-21 players are extra. That combination decides how deep a club's available talent pool actually is.
Common confusions
The biggest confusion is expecting a complete equipment law. The supplied reference facts do not include the full Law 4 text. Any detail about the specific clothing or safety requirements would be invented, so none of it is included here. The verified facts cover the Premier League's applied rules around who can play and when.
Another confusion is the meaning of homegrown. Homegrown does not mean a player came through the club's own academy. It means the player was trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21. That is a much broader category, and it is the definition in the source data.
Under-21 players also cause confusion. They do not count against the 25, but that does not mean they replace over-21 players on the list. They are additional names beyond the 25.
Substitutions cause regular confusion too. Five substitutes can be used, but they must be made in a maximum of three windows plus half-time. Half-time is not one of the three windows. A manager cannot use five separate stoppage-time delays to slow the game down.
Tiebreakers are another source of confusion. Head-to-head only comes into play after points, goal difference, and goals scored. A neutral play-off is only used when the position still matters for the title, relegation, or European qualification.
Law 4 equipment and the fantasy layer
Fantasy Premier League has its own version of the Law 4 equipment idea. A manager selects a 15-player squad, names 11 starters, and works within a £100.0m budget. No more than three players can come from one club.
Scoring is also strict. A goalkeeper or defender scores 6 for a goal, a midfielder 5, and a forward 4. An assist is worth 3. A clean sheet is worth 4 for a goalkeeper or defender and 1 for a midfielder. An appearance is worth 1 point under 60 minutes and 2 for 60 or more. Bonus points go 3, 2, 1 to the top three bonus point scorers. A yellow card costs -1, a red card -3, an own goal -2, and a missed penalty -2. Goalkeepers get +1 for every 3 saves and 5 for a penalty save. Every two goals conceded costs a goalkeeper or defender -1. The captain's score doubles. Any transfer beyond the free allowance costs -4.
Key takeaways
- The supplied source data does not include the full Law 4 equipment clauses, so this explainer covers only the verified Premier League facts.
- A Premier League club registers a 25-player squad for players over 21, with at least 8 homegrown players.
- Homegrown means trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21, not necessarily an academy product.
- Five substitutes per match are allowed, in a maximum of three windows plus half-time.
- FPL managers get a 15-player squad, a £100.0m budget, and a maximum of three players from one club.
FAQ
How many players can a Premier League club register?
A club can register 25 players over the age of 21. At least eight of those must be homegrown, meaning trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21. Under-21 players do not count against the 25.
How many substitutes can be used in a Premier League match?
Five substitutes can be used per match, but they must be made in a maximum of three windows plus half-time. Half-time does not count as one of the three windows.
What is the FPL budget?
The FPL budget is £100.0m for a 15-player squad, with 11 starters and a maximum of three players from one club.
What does Law 4 equipment cover?
Law 4 equipment is the part of football's rulebook that covers player equipment. The verified source data for this article does not include the full on-pitch equipment clauses, so the specific clothing and safety rules are not covered here.