The Professional Footballers’ Association has renewed requires the introduction of short-term concussion substitutes after contemporary controversy over the weekend.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez took a heavy blow to the top in an unintended collision with team-mate Tyrone Mings within the first half of his facet’s 4-0 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, however initially stayed on after prolonged therapy earlier than being changed shortly after.
The incident provoked contemporary debate over head damage protocols, and the PFA has now mentioned present guidelines are placing gamers at “serious risk”.
Dr Adam White, head of the PFA’s mind well being division, mentioned: “Put simply, the current laws of the game are jeopardising player health and safety.
“Permanent substitutions do not allow medical teams to assess a player with a potentially serious brain injury in an appropriate environment. The rules as they are create an extremely challenging situation and offer no support to medical personnel.”
In December 2020, the International Football Association Board launched a trial of everlasting concussion substitutes – not counting in direction of a facet’s substitute restrict.
The Premier League, the Football Association and English Football League subsequently adopted the rule completely throughout all skilled competitions – a transfer broadly welcomed on the time.
But the PFA continues to push for the introduction of short-term concussion substitutes, which might permit medical workers longer to evaluate potential accidents earlier than making a call on whether or not or not a participant must be completely changed.
The gamers’ union additionally expressed alarm that European governing physique UEFA is but to combine the everlasting concussion substitute rule into main competitions together with the Champions League, Europa League and Nations League.
White added: “This situation needs to be addressed urgently. As a bare minimum UEFA, as one of football’s major bodies, must lead by example and introduce the available permanent concussion substitution rule. This is an issue the PFA will be raising with UEFA directly.”
Villa’s determination to initially preserve Martinez on was closely criticised on Saturday.
Caretaker boss Aaron Danks mentioned: “We’ve got very professional medical staff, they had been on and assessed him and he was OK to continue.
“Then, obviously things have changed or there was a delayed onset of something that has meant that he’s had to come off.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk