September 19 – UEFA are to introduce new rules to prevent players suffering possible concussion. With immediate effect, referees will be allowed stop matches for up to three minutes and the team doctor will decide if a player can continue under new procedures to be used in European competitions.
FIFA are expected to take similar measures when their executive committee meets next week.
“The player will only be allowed to continue playing on the specific recommendation of the doctor to the referee,” UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino told reporters. The decision followed several concussion incidents at this year’s World Cup.
Uruguay’s Alvaro Pereira staggered on after being accidentally knocked out cold against England, pushing away medical staff who wanted him substituted.
FIFA medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe had sought the approval of UEFA’s executive committee for rules that go beyond the existing medical guidance. He revealed last week that a concussion case occurs on average once in every 20 games.
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