THIS season’s FA Cup will be used as an official trial for concussion substitutes.
Wembley chiefs have agreed managers will be able to use an extra ‘permanent’ sub if a player is concussed during ties from the third round onwards.
From the FA Cup third round onwards, teams will be allowed to make an extra substitute if a player suffers concussionCredit: PA:Press Association
The trial, which will also be extended to the Women’s FA Cup, was agreed after being signed off by the game’s law-making body Ifab today.
Fifa has backed the plan, ahead of a likely law global law change for the 2022-23 season.
It is now set to be formally agreed by Ifab at their Annual Business Meeting next month, with the FA keen to be at the forefront.
An FA spokesperson said Wembley ‘welcomed’ the move, adding: “The FA will support the proposal with a view to implementing the trials at the earliest possible stages of the 2020/21 Emirates FA Cup and Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
“Player welfare is paramount and we believe that this is an important step to help support players, clubs and medical teams when identifying and managing head injuries and incidents of concussion during a game.”
It means the new measure will be brought in from the third round stage of the men’s road to Wembley and the fourth round of the women’s competition.
The move will be regardless of whether the FA agrees to allow five substitutes rather than three in their flagship competition.
But in a bid to prevent cynical managers seeking to take advantage by using the law change to make an extra tactical substitution, the other team will also be granted the right to make one more change in response.
And there was another huge boost for football today.
Sports fans in Britain can return to indoor and outdoor events from December 2 onwards as the PM relaxes the sport coronavirus rules.
In a huge boost for the nation, fans in Tier 1 and 2 are expected to be allowed to watch Premier League games and other sporting events in the flesh after the lockdown ends.
Sport fans to return to live matches from December 2 with Premier League stadiums back open as rules relax
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
