Medical insider: Uefa ‘endangering lives’ as ‘ludicrous’ Arsenal controversy analysed
Uefa are potentially “endangering lives” by not allowing the likes of Arsenal to make concussion substitutions.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
The Premier League is one of several competitions participating in a trial which allows teams to make an additional change if they suffer a concussion injury.
Studies have shown that concussed players are at drastically increased risk of permanent brain injuries if a second blow to the head is suffered.
But as relayed by The Mirror last Thursday (29 September), Arsenal were left baffled when they were unable to take off Beth Mead following a head injury in the recent 1-0 Women’s Champions League win over Ajax.
Uefa were forced to clarify after the match that they do not allow concussion substitutes in any of their competitions.
Dinnery lambasted the governing body’s “ludicrous” stance.
“The Premier League and IFAB signed up to the concussion sub proctocol on a trial basis,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Not everyone has decided to take it up. The only competition Uefa have implemented this protocol was an under-21 tournament.
“But in the modern day, the governing body should be doing everything it can to protect the players. It seems inconceivable that the more high-profile events wouldn’t have these in place.
“I’m not saying that concussion substitutes are the ideal solution. I still think a temporary substitution so players can be evaluated effectively would be better.
“But it seems ludicrous to have no provisions at all. You are essentially endangering lives here and punishing teams who are forced to finish the game with a player less.“
In other news, expert claims Arsenal victims of major VAR blunder after controversial Gabriel Jesus footage emerges.