FIFA’s prime physician highlighted mind accidents in soccer as his prime precedence Tuesday forward of a World Cup the place groups can use an additional substitute if a participant has a suspected concussion.
“I joined FIFA to try and make a little bit of a difference and brain injuries is top of my list. That is the one we can focus on,” mentioned Andrew Massey, who joined the world governing physique as its medical director in 2020 after being staff physician at Liverpool. “What we do at the World Cup will be evidenced at grass roots football.”
The event in Qatar would be the first World Cup the place groups could make an extra everlasting substitution in a recreation for a suspected concussion, on prime of the 5 that can be utilized within the regulation 90 minutes.
In the ultimate of the 2014 World Cup, Germany midfielder Christoph Kramer stayed on the sector for 14 first-half minutes after taking a heavy blow to the face when colliding with an Argentina opponent. He was changed solely after slumping to the bottom.
Soccer’s typically inconsistent angle to go accidents was proven Saturday within the English Premier League. Aston Villa’s Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez continued enjoying for a number of minutes towards Newcastle regardless of trying groggy after colliding with a teammate.
FIFAs law-making panel, often called IFAB, has specifically allowed concussion subs on the World Cup because it continues trials that run by August subsequent yr with about 140 competitions globally.
Massey mentioned FIFA’s technique was to “suspect and protect,” aiming to keep away from having injured gamers staying on the sector till the severity of a head damage turns into clearer.
“We don’t want to leave a team numerically disadvantaged or tactically disadvantaged,” he instructed FIFA’s in-house “Living Football” present.
In Qatar, groups’ medical workers could have tablets to see video replays shortly and get enter from concussion spotters within the stands.
“Everything FIFA does is to support the team doctors” who make the ultimate resolution if a participant can proceed enjoying or have to be changed, Massey mentioned.
