MX23RW : Tuesday, May 14 19:22:49| >> :120:35471:35471:

Brendan Rodgers: 'Concussion substitutes are a good step forward'

Two permanent substitutions can now be made in the event of head injuries until the end of the season.

Concussion substitutes can be used for the first time on Saturday as the Premier League enters a new era of combating head injuries.

Two permanent substitutions can now be made in the event of head injuries until the end of the season, even if all replacements have already been used.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers called the development "a good step forward" and suggested it should soon become a permanent arrangement.

Brendan Rodgers File Photo
Brendan Rodgers has backed the use of concussion substitutes (Nick Potts/PA)

Rodgers said: "It makes sense, I don't see the negative in it.

"If there is an issue and a problem with a player and it doesn't pressurise medics who are trying to treat someone, because you can make that extra substitute, it can only be a benefit.

"Ultimately the players' health is really important, we have seen and heard some of the clashes which have gone on, it's been horrible. If this helps the game we will always support that."

Tottenham Hotspur v Ajax – UEFA Champions League – Semi Final – First Leg – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Jan Vertonghen endured long-term effects of concussion (Mike Egerton/PA)

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez was the most recent casualty of a serious head injury in the top-flight when he suffered a fractured skull in a clash of heads with David Luiz at Arsenal in November.

And former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen said he felt the effects of a concussion he sustained playing for Spurs in the 2019 Champions League semi-final for the following nine months.

The protocols were approved at the annual business meeting of the International Football Association Board, the game's lawmaking body, in December.

The one being used in the English competitions also allows for the opposition to make the equivalent number of changes, so that if one concussion substitute is used, they can make one change.

ID:434009: cacheID:434009:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5287:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Swansea City manager Steve Cooper pictured on January 9, 2021
Read Next:
Steve Cooper insists Swansea are "nowhere near the end"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!