Football
How do concussion substitutes work and can the player come back on the pitch?
CONCUSSION continues to be a contentious sporting issue with researchers uncovering more worrying detail about its effects.
How different sports and leagues deal with dazed players is constantly evolving – but what are the rules at Euro 2024?
What is a concussion sub in football?
This occurs when a team replaces a concussed player without having to use one of its five permitted substitutes.
The concussion sub is a relatively new addition to world football.
They were first trialled at domestic level in the Premier League, Ligue 1 and America’s Major League Soccer from around 2021 – and were introduced on the global stage at the 2022 World Cup.
On July 1, permanent concussion subs became enshrined in the laws of football.
The Premier League and players’ unions have been lobbying for trials of temporary concussion subs, which would allow players to be tested, replaced but then brought back onto the pitch if they pass medics’ tests.
But that has so far fallen on deaf ears.
A Professional Footballers’ Association spokesperson in March said: “While it’s a positive step that additional concussion substitutions are now being introduced, it’s extremely disappointing that IFAB (International Football Association Board) are still unwilling to let leagues trial temporary concussions subs, as they are requesting.
“Many leagues, unions and — importantly — club medics are aligned in the view that temporary substitutions would be a positive step for player welfare and concussion protocols.”
What is the concussion substitute rule?
If a player cops a head knock and leaves the pitch for assessment, teams at Euro 2024 have two options.
They can opt to inject a set of fresh legs into the game without losing one of their five ordinary substitutes.
The player taken off the pitch will not be able to return.
Otherwise, team medics can assess the player without activating a concussion sub in the hope he can return to play.
But during this time, the team will be a player down on the pitch and therefore at a disadvantage.
The Premier League in March slammed the IFAB’s decision not to allow trials of temporary subs.
A League statement said: “We cannot understand the basis for which it has not been approved.
“We are disappointed that a temporary concussion substitute trial was not approved considering all available scientific evidence and the overwhelming support from Premier League club doctors.”
Brain injury campaigners agreed, with Headway chief executive Luke Griggs arguing: “This system (permanent subs) has repeatedly failed to protect players.
“It relies on either medics making an immediate judgement or for a player to risk exacerbating their brain injury by playing on for 10 to 15 minutes to see how they get on.”
How to watch Euro 2024
Matches will be broadcast by both ITV and BBC.
You can see a list of how to watch every game below:
- 14-Jun Germany v Scotland 8pm ITV
- 15-Jun Hungary v Switzerland 2pm ITV
- 15-Jun Spain v Croatia 5pm ITV
- 15-Jun Italy v Albania 8pm BBC
- 16-Jun Poland v Netherlands 2pm BBC
- 16-Jun Slovenia v Denmark 5pm ITV
- 16-Jun Serbia v England 8pm BBC
- 17-Jun Romania v Ukraine 2pm BBC
- 17-Jun Belgium v Slovakia 5pm ITV
- 17-Jun Austria v France 8pm ITV
- 18-Jun Turkey v Georgia 5pm BBC
- 18-Jun Portugal v Czech Republic 8pm BBC
- 19-Jun Croatia v Albania 2pm ITV
- 19-Jun Germany v Hungary 5pm BBC
- 19-Jun Scotland v Switzerland 8pm BBC
- 20-Jun Slovenia v Serbia 2pm ITV
- 20-Jun Denmark v England 5pm BBC
- 20-Jun Spain v Italy 8pm ITV
- 21-Jun Slovakia v Ukraine 2pm BBC
- 21-Jun Poland v Austria 5pm ITV
- 21-Jun Netherlands v France 8pm BBC
- 22-Jun Georgia v Czech Republic 2pm BBC
- 22-Jun Turkey v Portugal 5pm ITV
- 22-Jun Belgium v Romania 8pm ITV
- 23-Jun Switzerland v Germany 8pm BBC
- 23-Jun Scotland v Hungary 8pm BBC
- 24-Jun Albania v Spain 8pm BBC
- 24-Jun Croatia v Italy 8pm BBC
- 25-Jun Netherland v Austria 5pm BBC
- 25-Jun France v Poland 5pm BBC
- 25-Jun England v Slovenia 8pm ITV
- 25-Jun Denmark v Serbia 8pm ITV
- 26-Jun Slovakia v Romania 5pm BBC
- 26-Jun Ukraine v Belgium 5pm BBC
- 26-Jun Georgia v Portugal 8pm ITV
- 26-Jun Czech Republic v Turkey 8pm ITV
All the games will also be available on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Read more on the Irish Sun
Full broadcast details for the knockout rounds of the tournament will be announced in due course.
However, it’s already been decided that ITV will have the first three picks plus the fifth and seventh picks in the Round of 16 games.