Moves by three elite football leagues globally – including the Premier League – to introduce temporary concussion substitutes from next season have been hailed as a “progressive development”.
In a letter written to IFAB, it is hoped that the Premier League – along with Major League Soccer in the United States and France’s Ligue 1 – can become football’s first top-flight divisions to trial the protocol.
The move, which is proposed to take effect from the start of the 2023/24 season, would be a major step forward in the protection of players, following a number of high-profile incidents which demonstrate the need for temporary substitutions.
While concussion substitutions were introduced into the Premier League in 2021, they have been marred by controversy, with the first use of a concussion substitute – after a clash of heads between Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Issa Diop, of West Ham United – was condemned as showing the protocol was “deeply flawed”.
Calls for temporary concussion substitutions have only increased since then, with recent incidents in the World Cup 2022 – namely involving Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and Wales’ Neco Williams – strengthening the case even further.
Among the vocal critics of the concussion substitutions is England legend Alan Shearer, who again called for temporary substitutions to be introduced, saying “What on earth are IFAB waiting for?”
Now, the application by the Premier League, MLS and Ligue 1 has been welcomed, with brain injury charity Headway – a prominent campaigner on the issue – highlighting its positive impact on players’ health.
“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.”
