Since January 1, 2021, the International Football Association Board ("IFAB") has been offering protocols to protect the football player who has suffered a concussion without numerically disadvantage his team and is experimenting with the possibility of an additional permanent replacement.
Inviting any interested federation to participate, lIFAB has developed two test protocols (I), which have been implemented both by FIFA and UEFA internationally (II) and by Ligue 1 in France (III).
Inviting any interested federation to participate, lIFAB has developed two test protocols (I), which have been implemented both by FIFA and UEFA internationally (II) and by Ligue 1 in France (III).
Concussion during a football match: 2 protocols tested by the IFAB
During his annual working session held on December 16, 2020, the IFAB Board of Directors approved thetemporary amendment to Football Law No. 3 - relating to "Players" in order to set up tests of "concussion substitutes" Additional permanent staff in the event of a potential or proven concussion.
The Board relied on recommendations from the IFAB Football and Technical Advisory Group meetings as well as the Concussion Expert Group (composed of team doctors, coaches, players and experts in the field of arbitration, legal matters and the Laws of the Game).
On this basis, the IFAB attempted to find a fair balanced between on the one hand, the player health protection en facilitating his final exit from the field and on the other hand, the desire not to not disadvantage his team by the loss of a possibility of tactical substitution.
Several goals are posted by the football rules regulatory body:
- Prevent the same player from sustaining a second concussion in the same match, which can be fatal (second impact syndrome);
- Send a strong message about priority of protecting the player's health by taking him out even when in doubt ;
- Allow replacement preventing teams that prioritize the well-being of their players from being shorthanded and tactically disadvantaged;
- Facilitate the work of the medical team who can thus make his decision in a more serene way;
- Facilitate the implementation of protocols at all levels of football, especially at the lower levels, where there are often no doctors or qualified medical staff.
The IFAB has thus developed two protocols for all national federations and confederations interested in taking part in this experience for all their competitions, whatever their level.
What is IFAB?
"The IFAB is made up of the four British football associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), which each have one vote, and FIFA (representing the remaining 207 associations), which has four votes. This composition guarantees management of the Laws of the Game in accordance with the traditions of football and the different national realities. Approval of a motion requires a three-quarters majority."
"The IFAB has always had the mission to independently monitor the Laws of the Game. As the only entity authorized to approve changes to the Laws of the Game, we listen to the football community. We therefore examine all proposals aimed at improving or developing football for the benefit of players, referees and supporters, to preserve its spirit and simplify its practice."
Protocol A
Principles :
- Each team is authorized to use only one "concussion substitute" in a game.
- The use of this "concussion replacement" is possible regardless of the number of replacements already used.
- In competitions where the number of substitutes on the starting list is equivalent to the maximum number of 'normal' substitutions possible, the 'concussion substitute' may be a player substituted earlier in the match.
Protocol B
Principles :
- Each team can use one maximum of two “concussion substitutes” during a game.
- The use of this "concussion replacement" is possible regardless of the number of replacements already used.
- In competitions where the number of substitutes on the starting list is equivalent to the maximum number of "normal" substitutions possible, the "concussion substitute" and the corresponding additional substitute within the opposing team (see below ) may be players substituted earlier in the match.
- As soon as a team uses a "concussion substitute", the opposing team is free to make an additional substitution.
The replacement of the football player for concussion
Substitution can be done immediately after a concussion or potential concussion situation; at the end of an initial three-minute period of on-field evaluation and/or at the end of the off-field evaluation; at any other time in the event of a concussion or potential concussion (especially if a player has already been examined and returned to play).
The team wishing to use a concussion substitution should notify the referee or 4th referee, ideally following a different colored substitution form or slip.
The substituted player is not allowed to participate in the rest of the match (not even in a possible penalty shoot-out), and if possible, he must be accompanied to the dressing rooms or to the medical service.
Replacement for medical reasons is independent of the number of "normal" replacement opportunities. However, if a team performs both a 'normal' substitution and a concussion substitution, both are counted as one and the same 'normal' substitution opportunity.
FIFA and UEFA take part in the IFAB experiment on the replacement of the football player for concussion
FIFA: the choice of Protocol A
FIFA has immediately supported to the protocols put in place by the IFAB in testing the additional permanent replacements in the event of a potential or proven concussion during the Club World Cup in Qatar from February 1 to 11, 2021.
FIFA has opted for Protocol A allowing a maximum of one concussion substitution per match.
UEFA: the choice of Protocol A
For its part, UEFA conducted a concussion awareness campaign in 2019 in order to inform players, coaches, referees and medical personnel of the correct procedure to follow in the event of an impact on the pitch.
It has also decided to make its contribution by enacting a concussion charter for teams who take part in its men's and women's interclub and national team competitions.
On February 23, 2021, the UEFA Executive Committee has chosen to test Protocol A for Euro Espoirs.
In France, the transposition of protocol A for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2
On June 1, 2021, the French Football Federation (FFF) implemented two protocols on its site concerning respectively the amateur footballers and professional footballers and French teams. These provide for a detailed procedure for recognizing a concussion which is either intended to remove the player permanently or to let him return to his place on the pitch.
In July 2021, following the publication of the IFAB protocols, the FFF asked him for authorization to experiment with protocol A for the 2021-2022 season in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.
On September 10, 2021, the Professional Football League (LFP) announced that from the 5th day of Ligue 1 Uber Eats:
"(...) The National Federal Doctor and the Medical Department of the FFF, together with the LFP, have decided to retain IFAB Protocol A as part of this experiment, while maintaining the protocol provided for in article 588 of the LFP regulations (...)."
It should be noted that the 1st replacement for concussion thus intervened during the meeting counting for the 7th day of Ligue 1 between Monaco and Saint-Etienne (replacement on concussion protocol of the ASM player, Krepin Diatta).
In one press release of November 25, 2021, the IFAB gave the first results of the global trial. Even though around 2021 competitions have adopted the protocols, few incidents have been reported since the start of the experiment in January 2022. It was therefore agreed that the trial would be extended beyond its original end date ( August 2023) for an additional year, until August XNUMX.
