The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) reckons there needs to be an introduction of temporary concussion substitutes following a head injury sustained by Leeds United’s Robin Koch.
Koch suffered the injury as Leeds lost 4-2 against Manchester United in a Premier League clash on Sunday.
After a clash of heads with Scott McTominay early in the match, defender Koch was left bloodied. Both players continued to play on with heavy bandaging before being substituted in the 31st minute.
PFA said that the concussion protocols within football were “failing to prioritise player safety”.
“The ‘if in doubt, sit them out’ protocol is not being applied consistently within the pressurised environment of elite competitive football,” said the PFA.
“We see frequent incidents of players returning to play with a potential brain injury, only to be removed shortly afterwards once symptoms visibly worsen.
“Introducing temporary substitutes would allow a match to restart with neither side numerically disadvantaged, reducing pressure on players and medical teams to make quick decisions on whether an injured player continues,” the PFA added.
“Put simply, the current rules set by (rule-making body) IFAB are not working, and players are being put at risk.”
