November 2 – The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) has renewed calls for the introduction of temporary concussion substitutions.
The PFA is asking football rule-making body IFAB to make temporary concussion substitutions available and has called on UEFA to add existing permanent concussion substitution rules to European competition.
The PFA also wants to see the introduction of a more rigorous protocol to review head injury assessments with leagues and clubs.
Current rules only allow for permanent concussion substitutions. The PFA argues they are not providing adequate protection for players, and that the rules have fallen short of their objective and put players at risk.
Concussion substitutions were introduced December 2020 by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), while competition organisers were given the option to participate in a trial of permanent concussion substitutions.
The PFA says that the addition to the rule of temporary concussion subs would allow medical staff to conduct more detailed and lengthy checks of the potentially injured player away from the field of play, before deciding whether they were fit to return to the play.
Head of the PFA’s dedicated Brain Health department, Dr Adam White said: “Put simply, the current laws of the game are jeopardising player health and safety.
“Permanent substitutions do not allow medical teams to assess a player with a potentially serious brain injury in an appropriate environment. The rules as they are create an extremely challenging situation and offer no support to medical personnel.”
White is seeking to access from the leagues and clubs for information regarding specific head injuries and work directly with clubs to set up a protocol for decision-making and on-field assessments.
“The reality of an in-game situation, an assessment of a potentially complex brain injury, is that it’s set against a backdrop of intense pressure,” said White.
“The risk of a player continuing when suffering a brain injury and the consequences of a second hit are severe. Players must be aware of the short-term and long-term implications of continuing to play in that state. No match, cup competition or league campaign is worth jeopardising your long-term health and future quality of life.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713542368labto1713542368ofdlr1713542368owedi1713542368sni@n1713542368osloh1713542368cin.l1713542368uap1713542368