Permanent concussion substitutes will be introduced by Premier League from February 6

The Premier League has announced that it will introduce permanent concussion substitutes from 6 February.

Provisions would be made for players who are diagnosed with or suspected of sustaining a concussion during a match to be substituted for teams participating in the Premier League, FA Cup, Women’s Super League, and Women’s Championship.

Two such replacements would be available to both teams, as well as their three regular substitutions.

The lunchtime game between Aston Villa and Everton on February 6 will be the first Premier League fixture under the new regulations.

The new protocol will first come into force in the FA Cup from next month’s fifth round and will be used in the Women’s Super League and Championship from February 6.

“The trial is a result of the IFAB’s consultation with stakeholders and recommendations from their concussion expert group to allow additional substitutions for players with actual or suspected concussion,” a joint statement from the FA and Premier League read.

The International Football Association Board( IFAB), which governs the laws of the game, allowed the opportunity to introduce permanent concussion substitutes after approving them on a trial basis in December.

The decision came at the end of a year in which the deaths of England’s 1966 World Cup winners Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles following dementia diagnoses – as well as the diagnosis of Sir Bobby Charlton – shone a light on the impact of head injuries sustained in football.