Brain injury charity: It is puzzling that football has not yet introduced a temporary substitution rule for concussions

The football world is ignoring its own warning signs about the need for temporary concussion substitutions after a horrific incident in which two players' heads violently collided during Bournemouth's game against Aston Villa, a leading brain injury charity says.

Bournemouth's Adam Smith and Tyler Adams collided at high speed early in the game, but only one of the two was substituted. Smith was substituted while Adams continued and played the full 90 minutes in the 4-0 defeat to Villa.

While permanent concussion substitutions are now a fixture in football, the International Football Association Board has resisted introducing the option of temporary substitutions, whereby players would leave the field to undergo a more thorough examination in the privacy of the dressing room. The idea is to allow a substitute player to temporarily replace a concussion victim until the injured player is deemed fully fit to return to the field. Headway UK chief executive Luke Griggs told the Daily Mail: "This incident between two team-mates is a reminder of how easily brain injuries can occur in football and we wish Adam Smith a speedy recovery from concussion." "It's clear from the reaction of players and fans that they recognize this The potential seriousness of this head collision. But while the cautious approach to subbing Adam was encouraging, many fans still questioned the decision to keep teammate Adams on the field. "

"The incident once again highlighted the challenges faced by medical staff in conducting concussion assessments immediately, such as certain factors that must be done on the field. The intense pressure and scrutiny involved in making a diagnosis, especially given the evolving nature of traumatic brain injury, makes this task extremely difficult."

"The problem is exacerbated by the football community's inexplicable refusal to improve the situation by introducing temporary concussion substitutions."

"Temporary concussion substitutions are not only in the best interests of the players, but also in the best interests of medical staff. It provides players with more time in a better environment to assess potential brain injuries, and also reassures teammates and fans that the player's welfare is paramount."

The Premier League was one of the football organizations that had previously expressed disappointment that the International Football Association Council did not approve the trial of temporary concussion substitutions after the 2023 annual meeting. The Premier League stated at the time that the matter should be promoted as early as possible for the sake of player welfare.