IFAB / concussions: Expert Group recommends trails of "additional permanent substitutions"

"The main principles of an additional permanent substitution protocol, potential test environments and timelines," were the focus of discussion at the second meeting of the IFAB Concussion Expert Group, organized by video-conference on 21/10/2020.

Composed of medical specialists, team doctors, representatives of players, coaches, competition organizers as well as experts in refereeing and the Laws of the Game, this working group, which had already met on 30/01/2020, "continued its deliberations on how the Laws of the Game could play a role in the management of suspected or actual concussion incidents during a game, mindful that the Laws are limited to the playing of a match," said the International Board.

"The group agreed that applying an 'if in doubt, take them out' philosophy would be the best solution to safeguard the health of football players," added the IFAB.

IFAB: discussions on 23/11/2020, decisions in December 2020