September 18 – FIFA has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to launch a global concussion awareness initiative developed with brain health experts.
The ‘Suspect and Protect: No Match is Worth the Risk’ campaign wants to spotlight the risks of concussion injuries and roll out education on the subject aimed at players, coaches and medical staff, as well as the general public, FIFA and the WHO said on Wednesday in a statement.
“Concussion is a brain injury and should always be taken seriously. Playing football should be something enjoyed safely, by everyone, everywhere,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino (pictured right). “By knowing the signs of concussion, by being aware of the risks, and by treating a concussion correctly, you can help to put player safety first.”
FIFA says that any player with one or more concussion symptoms should leave the pitch immediately and see a doctor within 24 hours. However, the world governing body does not indicate how long a player should refrain from returning to action.
In March, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) greenlighted permanent concussion substitutes following a trial and the concussion protocol was enshrined in the laws of the game.
At this summer’s Copa America teams – and not referees – had a pink card at their disposal to indicate that there would be a substitution because of a possible concussion, allowing sides to make a change without affecting their five authorised substitutions per match.
Suffering a head injury, Maximiliano Araujo became the first player to be replaced following a pink card during the Uruguay – United States match.
Conmebol’s medical protocol stated: “When a concussion is suspected, the referee shall allow up to 3 minutes for the medical team to evaluate the injured person on the pitch. If additional time is needed, the evaluation should be done on the sideline after the match has resumed. The referee will only authorise the player to continue in the match with the authorization of the team physician, who will make the final decision.”
In England, the Premier League has campaigned for a trial for temporary concussion substitutions, but FIFA has repeatedly declined the request, arguing that the health of the players must come first.
“Concussion is a public health issue of concern at all levels of football, and many other sports, requiring greater levels of awareness and action,” said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (pictured left).
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