By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
September 10 – Professional matches in world and European competitions could be held up for up to three minutes if radical plans to treat players suspected of suffering from concussion are passed by FIFA and UEFA.
Although cases of concussion are relatively rare in football unlike, say, American Football, FIFA’s Belgian medical chief Michel D’Hooghe wants to make sure it stays that way and will put his proposal before the UEFA executive committee on September 18 and, if it is approved, to FIFA’s equivalent a week later.
D’Hooghe revealed the proposal at the Soccerex Convention here, citing five suspected cases at the World Cup in Brazil. That, plus high-profile incidents like France international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris being concussed playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Everton last year, raised FIFA’s concerns.
D’Hooghe told delegates: “If there is a suspected concussion we (the medical officer in attendance) will ask the referee to stop the game for a maximum three minutes.”
He said the idea was conceived last month at a meeting involving FIFA medical experts and representatives of national teams including England and Germany.
Theoretically the new rules could come into effect in October and would apply to European and international fixtures but not initially to domestic leagues.
“FIFA issued our first paper on concussion in 2003 and we have organised four concussion meetings so no-one can accuse FIFA of doing nothing. But it is true we have no strict rules,” said d’Hooghe. “We will have them if UEFA and FIFA approve it.
“There are sports like American Football where they have 200 concussions a year and in Australian Football they have 120 a year. In soccer we have a concussion case once in 20 games so it is not frequent but that does not mean it is not a serious problem that can have serious consequences and complications.”
“Now the medical committee is proposing that where there is a suspected concussion the referee must stop the game for three minutes which will give the team doctor the chance to evaluate medically the condition of the player.
“Of course if he is unconscious it is not difficult but if he is not, it gives the doctor the chance to talk to him and give him a brief neurological examination and then take a decision.
“The referee can only allow the player to continue with the green light of the team doctor.
“It will not be the decision of the coach or the player himself. After having a concussion the player is not able to judge his own situation.”
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