Ahead of the World Cup, when teams are permitted to deploy an additional substitution if a player has a suspected concussion, FIFA’s chief physician on Tuesday emphasised brain injuries in soccer as his main priority.
FIFA doctor views World Cup as a showcase for concussion policy
“Brain injuries are at the top of my list since I joined FIFA to try and make a little bit of a difference. We can concentrate on that one, according to Andrew Massey, who joined the international governing body as its medical director in 2020 after serving as Liverpool’s team doctor. “Grassroots football will show what we do in the World Cup.”
For the first time at a World Cup, teams will be able to make an additional permanent substitute during a game for a suspected concussion in addition to the five that may be made during a regular 90-minute period.
After receiving a serious knock to the face after colliding with an Argentina opponent in the 2014 World Cup final, Germany player Christoph Kramer remained on the field for 14 first-half minutes. He was only replaced after collapsing to the ground.
The English Premier League demonstrated soccer’s sometimes uneven approach to head injuries on Saturday. Emiliano Martinez, the Argentina goalkeeper for Aston Villa, played for long minutes against Newcastle despite seeming sleepy after clashing with a teammate.
FIFA’s governing body, known as IFAB, has specifically permitted concussion substitutes during the World Cup as it conducts testing that will go through August of next year with around 140 events worldwide.
According to Massey, FIFA’s approach was to “suspect and protect,” trying to prevent wounded players from remaining on the field until the seriousness of a head injury is known.
According to him, “We don’t want to leave a team numerically or tactically handicapped.” on FIFA’s internal “Living Football” programme.
The medical personnel of the teams will have iPads in Qatar so they may view video replays fast and obtain feedback from spectators who have seen concussions.
According to Massey, “all FIFA does is to help the team physicians” who make the ultimate determination on whether a player can continue to play or has to be substituted.