Football lawmakers have agreed to run trials of concussion alternatives starting in January for any league that wants them.
The new rule means that permanent substitutions can be made if a player suffers a head injury, even if all substitutions have already been used.
To avoid the potential for abuse of the base, opposition teams will also be able to make a change at the same time.
The Ifab Council also confirmed the extension of the five-player rule.
Ifab, the body that creates and approves the laws of football, originally allowed teams to make five substitutions to help with Crowded schedule After football was stopped due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The extension, announced after Wednesday’s meeting, applies to domestic competitions ending on December 31, 2021, and to international competitions ending on July 31, 2022.
The Football Association said it welcomes the approval of an “additional permanent alternative to a head injury” and that it will carry out trials “at the earliest practical opportunity” this season in the FA Cup, the FA Women’s Cup, the Women’s Premier League and the Women’s Championship.
The Scottish Confederation said it would advance “to present the experience in the Scottish Cup at the earliest opportunity.” The first round of the 2020/21 competition starts on December 26th.
This “in turn will provide invaluable data to guide a broader implementation plan for Scottish football,” said the Scottish Football Association’s chief medical advisor.
John Stills, whose father, World Cup winner Newby died in October, after suffering from dementia and prostate cancer, has criticized the way soccer has dealt with head trauma and injuries.
He referred to the incident in which Wolverhampton striker Raul Jimenez suffered a fractured skull in a head confrontation with Arsenal defender David Luiz during a Premier League match at Emirates Stadium on November 29.
Brazilian center back Luiz played with a bandage wrapped around his head before being substituted in the first half. Arsenal said protocols were followed on the decision.
“It’s been a long time,” Stills said of the experiences. “I think there is a general reluctance for football in general, particularly within the FA, to admit there is a problem, and I don’t think they have done enough or acted fast enough.”
“And it takes a horrific incident like the one in which Luis and Jimenez got involved to get them to actually do something.”
The Premier League is also believed to endorse the new law, but any change to protocol in the Premier League is subject to voting by clubs that meet on Thursday.
Alternatives to concussion were put in place in soccer competition at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 before the Games were postponed until 2021 due to the Coronavirus.
The ability to collect a more accurate diagnosis of head injuries has come into the limelight with many members of the 1966 World Cup winning England team being diagnosed with dementia.
Stiles and Jack Charlton, who died earlier this year, had dementia, while Sir Bobby Charlton’s family recently revealed that he was He was diagnosed with the disease.
Former Tottenham defender Jan Vertongen, too Recently explained How he felt the effects of the concussion he suffered while playing for Tottenham over the next nine months.
Headway Brain Injury Charity says that additional permanent alternatives, rather than temporary alternatives as we saw in Rugby Union, may mean very slight changes.
“Instead of celebrating this development, we are left to wonder what difference this will really make,” said Peter McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Headway.
The main questions are, how will players be assessed for suspected concussion, and how will decisions be made about whether it should be permanently removed?
“If decisions continue to be made the same way, it is very difficult to see how the player’s well-being will be improved.”
Some referees have lost their handball spirit
On Wednesday, IFBB also addressed concerns about interpreting the handball law.
David Ellery, a former Premier League referee and now IFAP coach, admitted there were problems with interpretation.
Before the start of the season IFAB stressed the interpretation of the law, Defining the boundary between the shoulder and the arm as below the armpit, and declaring that playing with the ball anywhere on the arm below constitutes a handball, regardless of the intention.
Ifab also asserted that a handball crime occurs when a player makes his body “ unnaturally bigger ” and / or places his arms above shoulder height.
It was also made clear that the “accidental” handball of an attacking player is not punished unless it occurs “immediately” before a goal or clear opportunity to score.
“There were clearly some notable incorrect decisions that were falsely portrayed as the wrong law, while the VAR technology was a mistake,” said Elliray.
“In 2019, we were not asked to change handball, but we are giving more instructions to referees and details in the law. Some referees have taken it too literally and lost their handball spirit.”
Eleray said no changes would be imminent but it would be handled again in the spring.
He added that there had been no discussions about the length of time to make some decisions with the VAR. He said, “It is clear that the VAR technology had an effect on the course of the match, but it is clear that the VAR technology made it more fair.”
He added, “Some other benefits have not been well publicized but there is evidence of a decrease in simulation in the region and less harassment and arguments with the rulers because they know they will be verified. The behavior is better.”
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