Paul Warne - Doctors hold key to concussion substitutes in football

The FA are set to fast-track their concussion substitute trials, which could see the measures introduced as early as the FA Cup third round in January.

There was criticism from some quarters this week after Arsenal defender David Luiz was allowed to carry on during the Gunners’ Premier League fixture with Wolves following a frightening head collision with Raul Jimenez.

The Mexican striker suffered a fractured skull and was taken straight to hospital while Luiz continued until half-time before being substituted following the incident in the opening 10 minutes.

The proposed measures will allow an extra permanent substitution for teams who have identified a player who could be at risk of concussion.

Sports such as rugby league and rugby union have protocols in place for temporary substitutions in the case of head injuries, giving medical staff longer to assess a player before deciding if they are fit to continue. Football does not look set to follow that route but Warne feels an independent doctor should be present to make any decision regarding concussion substitutions.

“There is that much pressure on physios to keep players on the pitch and I would prefer it was an independent doctor who made the decision,” he said.

“Something needs to change, quite obviously.

“More often than not whenever I have played, and I was hit a couple of times, the physio has come over and straightaway said I was coming off.

“The players’ health should come first.

“If there is any element of doubt with any head injury then your game should be over.”

He added: “With the brain injuries in football at the moment – and I don’t know the answer – but it is something that needs to be looked at.”

World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst believes concussion substitutes are a “terrific idea” and said it is time to end the “stupidity” of players playing on with head injuries.

He said recently: “I appreciate there are disagreements between clubs in regards to the introduction of five substitutes but I can’t see why any club would disagree with substitutes purely for concussions, and nor should they.”

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