The introduction of permanent concussion substitutes on an initial trial basis from January has been approved by Football lawmakers.
The impact of head trauma alongside several high-profile dementia diagnoses across football has led to widespread backing for its implementation and for it to be taken more seriously from within the game.
The decision was reached at the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) annual business meeting on Wednesday.
It comes weeks after Arsenal’s David Luiz and Raul Jiminez’s incident, which saw the Wolves striker fracture his skull.
IFAB said that its members “agreed that, in the event of an actual or suspected concussion, the player in question should be permanently removed from the match to protect their welfare, but the player’s team should not suffer a numerical disadvantage”.
An FA statement read: “Player welfare is of paramount importance and The FA has played an active role in lobbying for the IFAB to support the introduction of head injury substitutes within the rules of football.”
The IFAB and FIFA has to be written to by any competition organizers wishing to take part in the trial, through their respective national football associations.
The Football Association has announced its intention to implement the trials “at the earliest practical opportunity” of the men’s and women’s FA Cup competitions, as well as the Women’s Super League and Championship.
Mark Bullingham, the FA chief executive said: “The reason we want it in the competition is the reason most other leagues around the world have applied it.
“That is, for player welfare. We recognise it’s been a short pre-season, we recognise we’re in a very congested season now and we feel it’s appropriate to have the ability to have five substitutes and we’ll be applying that to our competition”
The Premier League will also discuss using concussion substitutes at its latest shareholders’ meeting on Thursday.
17 thoughts on “Concussion substitutes trial approved by IFAB from January 2021”