Premier League concussion substitutions confirmed for next weekend
The league has acted swiftly after International Football Association Board met last month
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Your support makes all the difference.The Premier League has confirmed concussion substitutions will be rolled out from 6 February.
A timetable has now been revealed after both the league and Football Association, which confirmed teams will be able to implement the new protocol from next week.
The new rules were finalised by the International Football Association Board, the game's lawmaking body, last month, with calls growing louder after the sickening collision between Raul Jimenez and David Luiz, which left the Wolves striker with a fractured skull.
It saw players, such as Manchester City’s Ederson, call for concussion substitutions.
And now they will be introduced initially in the men’s game during the fifth round of the FA Cup, while the women’s game will utilise the new protocol in the Women’s Super League and Championship.
The new rules have not been unanimously welcomed, with brain injury specialist Dr Willie Stewart, labelling them as "putting lipstick on a pig".
"The trial is a result of the IFAB's consultation with stakeholders and recommendations from their concussion expert group to allow additional substitutions for players with actual or suspected concussion," read the joint statement.
READ MORE: Troy Deeney’s comments symbolise football’s pitiful record when it comes to concussion
The world players' union FIFPRO concurred with Dr Stewart, with a preference for a 10-minute assessment period if a player was concussed and the introduction of a temporary substitute.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham confirmed the body’s happiness that the new rules mirrored their "if in doubt, sit them out" approach when handling concussion.
Premier League agrees to trial concussion substitutions
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Shearer demands immediate introduction of concussion subs
Man City goalkeeper Ederson says football needs concussion substitutes
"I'm really surprised this is seen as a cop-out. I see this as going further," he said.
"We're taking any player that is suspected of concussion off the pitch. I don't follow the logic there.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer on the introduction of concussion subs and ‘life and death’ protocols
"I understand there are two models that have got different values but, from our point of view, we see this as a stronger model, the safer model, and that's what we're being advised by the medical experts."
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