We welcome today’s announcement from the International Football Association Board [IFAB] to approve the trials of an additional permanent head injury substitute.
Player welfare is of paramount importance and we have played an active role in lobbying for the IFAB to support the introduction of head injury substitutes within the rules of football. The IFAB trial for an additional permanent head injury substitute has been officially supported by a wide range of medical experts.
As a result of today’s announcement, we can confirm that we will start the process of applying to the IFAB to introduce these trials at the earliest practical opportunity across the 2020/21 Emirates FA Cup and Vitality Women’s FA Cup, and for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship.
Working within the guidelines set out by the IFAB, we will work with the clubs involved in these competitions to ensure they are able to support their players and medical teams during the implementation of this trial.
This new trial will enable all teams in these competitions to promote and raise awareness for our Concussion Guidelines, including the ‘If In Doubt, Sit Them Out’ policy, and will empower medical teams to make player-centred decisions of removal from the field. We will continue to work with our stakeholders across football to help support players, clubs and medical teams when identifying and managing head injuries during a game.
Further details, including the confirmation of when the trials will be introduced, will be announced in due course.
