GAME IS DAZED AND CONFUSED
PFA call for temporary concussion subs after Koch controversy
PFA bosses have accused football’s authorities of “failing to prioritise player safety” after Leeds defender Robin Koch was “put at risk”.
The players’ union have called for temporary concussion substitutes as a matter of urgency after Koch’s head injury in Leeds’ defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.
The defender was given a bandage and allowed to play on after a clash of heads with Scott McTominay in the 13th minute, believing it was a gash. He was eventually taken off in the 31st minute and Leeds have now confirmed they are treating it as a concussion injury.
Leeds support temporary concussion substitutes, with the idea being that it gives medics more time to evaluate head injuries while allowing the game to continue, rather than being rushed into on-field decisions.
The PFA statement said: “The injury to Leeds United’s Robin Koch demonstrates again that the concussion protocols within football are failing to prioritise player safety. The ‘if in doubt, sit them out’ protocol is not being applied consistently within the pressurised environment of elite competitive football.
“We see frequent incidents of players returning to play with a potential brain injury, only to be removed shortly afterwards when symptoms visibly worsen.
“Temporary substitutes would allow a match to restart with neither side disadvantaged, reducing pressure on players and medical teams to make quick decisions on whether an injured player continues.
“The rules set by the International Football Association Board [IFAB] are not working, and players are being put at risk.”
The Premier League are currently trialling the use of an extra permanent substitute – rather than temporary ones – which is due to run until the end of this season.
Luke Griggs, deputy chief executive of brain injury charity Headway, stressed the days of Terry Butcher playing with a bloody bandage, below, were gone. He said: “Robin Koch had to be helped from the pitch, looking dazed.
“We cannot continue with a ‘patch them up, get them back out there’ approach to head injuries. Players must be protected.
“Medics have a tough time when trying to make on-pitch concussion assessments. The game simply has to help by implementing temporary concussion substitutes.”
There have also been calls for the use of independent doctors.
But club medics insist that questions their integrity and they would never compromise their professionalism, while they know their players better.
The Premier League are reviewing what happened.
Leeds’ medics insist concussion protocols were followed.
Koch passed the necessary tests and was told to sit down if he felt symptoms, which is what happened.