January 21 – The English Premier League is making a head start on everyone else by becoming the first competition to approve permanent concussion substitutes from next week.
Teams will be given two concussion replacements, in addition to their three regular subs, in each game.
But to avoid potential cheating by clubs seeking to take advantage of the new law, the opposing coach will also be allowed to make extra substitutions on top of the standard three changes.
The International FA Board, which governs the laws of the game, gave competitions the opportunity to concussion subs after approving them on a trial basis in December.
The English Football Association is keen to follow the league’s lead with the rule to be in place for the FA Cup fifth round.
The decision came at the end of a year in which the deaths of England’s 1966 World Cup heroes Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles were both linked to dementia diagnoses and the impact of head injuries in football.
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