CHANGING THE RULES
FIFPRO has campaigned since 2013 to improve football's concussion protocol.
And now football stakeholders from UEFA to FIFA and rules-maker IFAB are coming around to our point of view.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) agreed to look at our request to introduce new regulations.
We want the allotted time to review each player with a possible concussion to be extended to 10 minutes (from three minutes) with a temporary substitute available for this review to take place without being rushed.
So that the correct decision is made, without influence from coaching staff, we also want an independent doctor to take part in this review.
Separately, FIFPRO and 32 European Leagues have agreed on a framework to improve concussion management across domestic competitions.
Between us, we have agreed to:
- Implement the International Consensus Statement on Concussions in Sport in domestic league rules.
- Provide pre-season education involving players, coaches, medical staff and referees in domestic leagues.
- Monitor and report concussions and apply domestic regulations, including disciplinary codes and sanctioning mechanisms.
- Where possible, make available in-game instant video replay for the identification of concussion via broadcast images.