Premier League leads call for temporary concussion subs

The Premier League has collaborated with various leagues and player associations globally to call for trials of temporary concussion substitutes. Previous requests for these temporary replacements have been consistently rejected by the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

 

This latest initiative from the Premier League is backed by 28 other leagues and player organizations, including players’ union Fifpro, Serie A, France’s Professional Football League, Major League Soccer, the Premier Soccer League in South Africa, European Leagues, and the World Leagues Association.

 

A letter advocating for this change argues it is essential for player welfare, citing available medical and scientific data. This correspondence has been sent to Ifab ahead of its annual business meeting in London on Tuesday. Additionally, the Premier League has sent a separate letter, endorsed by the EFL and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), offering to conduct the trial and share comprehensive results.

 

In 2024, permanent concussion substitutes were incorporated into the game’s regulations after a trial period. Ifab maintains that this approach demonstrates a zero-tolerance policy toward concussion; any player suspected of having one must be replaced and cannot return to play. However, the Premier League contends that permanent substitutions may lead teams to risk keeping injured players on the field.

 

Temporary substitutes would allow a player to be assessed away from the game for 10-15 minutes, permitting their return if no concussion is confirmed. Advocates argue that temporary replacements could greatly enhance the management of concussive injuries by ensuring medical personnel have ample time for evaluation.

 

The Premier League is eager to discuss this issue with Ifab and plans to share data and insights with both the international board and FIFA. There is hope that Ifab will advance this concept to its annual general meeting in Cardiff on February 28, where trials might receive final approval.

 

Despite Ifab’s claim that permanent substitutions are the safest option, many leagues and unions have repeatedly opposed this view. Both Fifpro and the PFA expressed their concerns about Ifab’s trials starting in 2021. In 2022, the PFA argued that external temporary substitutes would allow medical staff to perform more thorough examinations away from the pitch.

 

A joint appeal from several leagues was rejected at Ifab’s AGM in March 2023, prompting disappointment from the Premier League, which felt important scientific evidence was being overlooked. Subsequently, Fifpro emphasized its support for temporary substitutes, referencing studies indicating that concussion assessments for athletes should take a minimum of 10-15 minutes.

 

The Premier League’s communication to Ifab highlights recent research showing that between 27% and 53% of players diagnosed with a concussion are not promptly replaced. Other sports using temporary substitutes have seen a significant decrease in players returning to play after being diagnosed with a concussion. For instance, in rugby union, this number dropped from 58% to 8%, while in the NFL, it fell below 2%.

 

The Premier League will assert that there is no valid reason to dismiss trials for temporary replacements and, if turned down, expects a detailed explanation. A regulatory framework has been devised to prevent teams from exploiting substitutions for competitive advantage. The opposing team would receive an additional substitution, and video footage of all incidents would be reviewed by an oversight committee to verify their legitimacy.

 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously stated that the decision to refuse a trial for temporary replacements was made in the interest of player safety and to maintain a “zero risk” approach in such situations.