Subs trials ‘must go further’
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have been warned the concussion substitute trials “do not go far enough”.
Clubs will be allowed an extra two subs from this weekend to help with head injuries after being given the green light by IFAB.
The 20 top-flight clubs have been given a presentation this week about concussion subs and how they will be used as the Prem becomes the first league to start the trial.
But the IFAB plan is to make them permanent substitutes and campaigners insist that is the wrong option and temporary replacements would allow players to be assessed for concussion.
It comes after pressure to tackle concussion amid a string of recent incidents, including Wolves striker Raul Jimenez suffering a
fractured skull in a clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz, who played on despite a head wound.
Sports lawyer Ipek Tugcu, senior associate at Bolt Burdon Kemp, said: “These changes don’t go far enough. The current problem is that injured players aren’t being substituted to be properly assessed.
“You only have to look at what happened with Luiz after his clash with Jimenez to see that, sadly, health often takes second place.
“Temporary concussion subs would allow a player with a suspected injury to be taken off the pitch for a head injury assessment, away from the match.
“Doctors would get the necessary time and privacy to consider whether the player was fit to return.”
But Prem bosses insist it is still at the trial stage and therefore could be changed further down the line.