Diop’s two minute concussion check criticised
The decision to allow Issa Diop back onto the pitch after just two minutes of being assessed for a concussion injury has been slammed by an expert in the field.
Peter McCabe, chief executive of the brain charity Headway, said: ‘The decision to allow Issa Diop to return to the field of play after being assessed for concussion in just two minutes while still on the pitch shows just how deeply flawed this new protocol is.
‘When this rule was introduced to much fanfare, we warned that it would make very little difference in terms of protecting players from the risk of more serious injury.
‘Had the FA followed the advice of Headway and other leading experts by introducing temporary substitutes, as successfully used in other sports, Diop would not have been at risk of exacerbating the injury to his brain during the seven minutes he was allowed to play on before half time.
‘The new protocol has failed its very first test. FIFA and IFAB must act now to alter the rule and introduce temporary concussion substitutes to avoid such unacceptable risk being taken in the future.’
Diop was eventually replaced at half-time by Ryan Fredericks with the permanent concussion substitute rules now in place.
ClaretandHugh says: It really is difficult to understand why the Premier League should choose not to take on board the advice of a charity which has been dealing in a problem which comes new to football officialdom. Of course it’s a great idea to ensure ultimate safety levels and the concussion rule, in essence, is a very good one. But surely the plan should have been to discuss the way forward with all those who have been dealing in these issues for years. We understand that Issa has actually been left with no more than a swollen head – if you will excuse the expression. but it’s hard – even as laymen – not to agree with Headway’s chief executive that two minutes is hardly long enough to check such critical issues