Football’s rule-making body has approved the use of additional ‘concussion substitutes’

Football’s rule-making body has agreed to trials of ‘concussion substitutes’ at ‘all levels of the game’ following increasing concern for players, who suffer head injuries.

A meeting of the International Football Association Board held on Wednesday approved trials of substitutions, where a player is concussed, or concussion is suspected.

Trials can begin from January in which permanent substitutions can be made if medical staff are concerned about a player. 

Raul Jiminez suffered a fractured skull in a sickening clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz

The move comes after a sickening clash of heads between Arsenal’s David Luiz and Raul Jiminez, which left the Wolves man with a fractured skull. The Brazilian Luiz played on for the rest of the first half — a move that received criticism.

The move comes one year after IFAB began consultation on the issue.  Confederations, national football associations and competition organisers, such as the Premier League and EFL must apply to IFAB and FIFA to take part in the trials.

As reported by Sportsmail yesterday, the Premier League clubs are set to give the green light to the use of permanent concussion substitutes for the second half of the season, when shareholders meet tomorrow.

Arsenal’s David Luiz suffered a blow to the head in a collision with Wolves Raul Jiminez

The FA has already decided to trial concussion substitutes in the FA Cup third round, Women’s Super League and Women’s FA Cup.

The annual business meeting of IFAB, which was held via video link, also discussed inconsistencies in the application of the handball rule.

However, no decision was taken and the matter will be considered at IFAB’s annual general meeting next year. 

In a statement IFAB said: ‘It was agreed that not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence. 

‘In terms of “unnaturally bigger”, referees should judge the position of the hand/arm in relation to the player’s movement in that phase of play.’