The governing body which can approve moves by three top-class football leagues to introduce temporary concussion substitutes has been urged to “prioritise player welfare” and give the go-ahead at a key meeting today.
The Premier League, Ligue 1 in France and MLS in the United States recently put forward proposals to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for the trial of temporary substitutions after a player sustains a concussion.
The move, supported by unions the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and MLSPA, came after the need for such action was again highlighted during the World Cup 2022 and two particularly prominent examples of the failure of concussion protocols in England’s games against Iran and Wales.
This trial is a meaningful attempt at trying to get more players with possible or suspected concussions off the field and checked properly, in a quieter and calmer atmosphere away from the pitch, before being allowed to play on or permanently removed if diagnosed with a concussion.
Today, IFAB holds its annual business meeting, which marks the first opportunity the organisation has had to discuss and vote on the proposals.
Leading academics, scientists, charities and advocates have all urged IFAB to take such action, with an open letter sent back in June 2022 encouraging the introduction of temporary concussion substitutions to better protect players.
Now, with the opportunity for IFAB to support such action, charities have called for them to take it.
Nathan Howarth, executive director of Concussion Legacy Foundation UK, says: “It is vital that doctors and medics in football are given adequate opportunity to evaluate individuals which may have been concussed.
“In no other form of medicine would such a significant brain injury be initially assessed in front of thousands in a matter of minutes.
“Given the risks associated of delayed removal from play for concussed players, from extended recovery and even serious hurt and second impact syndrome, we would implore IFAB to vote for the introduction of temporary concussion substitutions.”
“This would be a progressive development in better protecting the brain health of players,” says Luke Griggs, chief executive of Headway.
“Headway has repeatedly called for football to bring in temporary substitutes and, if this is confirmed, it will be warmly welcomed.
“The evolving nature of concussion means that a ten-minute off-pitch assessment will never be fool proof. But it will allow medics more time to make better informed decisions, in the quiet confines of the dressing room, rather than snap judgements made on the pitch.”
