Can a player who is substituted return to the match?

In soccer, according to the rules governing substitutions, once a player has been substituted, they are not allowed to return to the match. This rule is in place to ensure the proper flow of the game and to manage player fatigue and strategy effectively.

Substitutions serve to give teams the opportunity to refresh their lineup with fresh legs or to make tactical adjustments. However, allowing substituted players to return could disrupt the game's structure and the tactical dynamics established during the match.

The rules do have certain allowances for substitutions under specific circumstances, such as injury, but these pertain to the addition of new players from the bench rather than to the reintegration of those who have already been substituted out. Therefore, the correct choice highlights the definitive nature of the substitution rule: a substituted player cannot return to that game.