Premier League clubs set to allow concussion substitutions from next month as chiefs try to protect players

PREM clubs will vote to introduce concussion substitutes from the start of next month. The 20 “shareholder” clubs are expected to follow the lead of the FA and vote to take part in Fifa’s global trial from January 1. It means all Prem teams will be able to replace a player who has suffered a […]

PREM clubs will vote to introduce concussion substitutes from the start of next month.

The 20 “shareholder” clubs are expected to follow the lead of the FA and vote to take part in Fifa’s global trial from January 1.

Reuters

Premier League clubs are set to vote in concussion subs from next month[/caption]

It means all Prem teams will be able to replace a player who has suffered a potential concussion even if they have used all their available substitutes.

The need for the change became clearer after Arsenal defender David Luiz played on for the remainder of the first half of his side’s defeat by Wolves despite blood seeping from the wound sustained in the clash which left Raul Jimenez with a fractured skull.

FA chiefs agreed to be part of the trial from the third round stage next month.

Football’s Law-making body, the International FA Board, is certain to approve trials can start from the start of next year when it holds its Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday. 

And SunSport understands there is unanimous support from all 20 clubs for the Prem to adopt the measure from the first available opportunity.

That will be confirmed at Thursday’s meeting of the 20 clubs.

Under the new Law, both managers will be allowed to make an extra change in the event of a head injury forcing a substitution.

That is a bid to prevent cynical managers “persuading” one of their players they have sustained a potential concussion to try to gain a tactical advantage.

The FA, which has been a firm supporter of the Law change,  also confirmed it would allow concussion substitutes in the Women’s Super League and Championship.

But while there is total agreement on concussion substitutes, it is far less certain that the third vote on reverting to five substitutes will be passed.

Supporters of the move, led by the Big Six – and which was rebuffed by 11 votes to nine in both August and September – need 14 of the 20 clubs to agree for it to be brought into the Prem rulebook.

SunSport revealed PFA boss Gordon Taylor demanded Prem chief exec Richard Masters overruled the clubs to force through the change but the League boss has so far declined to make any such intervention.

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