What effect does a player being sent off before kickoff have on the team's substitutes?

When a player is sent off before kickoff, it impacts the team's ability to utilize substitutes during the match. Specifically, the team loses one substitute option. This is because the match rules state that a team must have at least a minimum number of players on the field to start the game. If a player is sent off, that player cannot be replaced, reducing the overall number of available substitutes.

This adjustment is crucial because it alters the team's tactical decisions and how they might approach the match. For teams with a limited number of substitutes, losing an option before the game even begins can be significant, as it can prevent them from making necessary substitutions later for strategy or injury.

The other options do not align with the rules governing player substitutions and team composition, as they suggest that the team either retains all substitutes, gains an additional option, or faces immediate defeat, which misrepresents the real scenario following a pre-kickoff send-off.