Extra doctor to be utilised at the Club World Cup
The Club World Cup next week in Qatar will be the first football competition to include an extra doctor in the stands – a so-called “spotter” – to help identify injuries, particularly suspected concussions.
The Daily Telegraph reported last month that the NFL was keen to share its experiences, as well as a pitchside doctor who is used to support the club medics, Fifa will now follow American football by positioning an additional independent doctor in the stands.
This medic will have access to a video review display and will be in contact via radio with the pitchside doctors. The move follows concerted calls for better concussion protocols in football from the world players’ union Fifpro, as well as numerous neuropathologists. They now want other competitions to adopt the medical spotters, and football to allow concussion substitutions and the sort of off-field 10-minute head injury assessment period used in rugby union.
Liverpool will be taking part next week in the Club World Cup, when team doctors will also again have access to a video replay in the stands and radio communication to their pitchside colleague.
The change follows landmark research by the University of Glasgow, which showed that former professional footballers were 3.5 times more likely to die of dementia and other brain diseases.
There is still frustration at the delay over concussion substitutes, with the International Football Association Board (Ifab) having so far only indicated trials will start next season. In contrast, the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football announced this week that it will be introducing concussion substitutes from the start of 2020.
Premier League doctors, the Football Association, Uefa and Fifpro all support the introduction of concussion substitutes, which would require Ifab to agree a change in the Laws of the Game.
There is nothing, however, to stop competition organisers, such as the Premier League, FA or Uefa from immediately bringing in independent medical “spotters”.
“We welcome this positive development,” said Dr Vincent Gouttebarge, Fifpro’s chief medical officer. “Having a doctor in the stands with access to a video review display will strengthen football’s concussion protocol. Concussion is the most difficult injury to identify and therefore it needs extra attention.”