The Premier League has announced that they will introduce the use of substitutes in the instances of head injuries and suspected concussion, with the new protocols coming in as early as January 2021.

These protocols are being introduced amongst media reports of recently-retired professional athletes battling early cognitive decline linked to head injuries suffered during their careers. The death of former Wales defender Keith Pontin, who suffered with dementia, has been linked to heading the football during his career, and England manager Gareth Southgate has called for more research regarding the risks posed to professional footballers. However, some leading experts have criticised the proposals as “pointless” and a “half-measure.”

The additional concussion substitutes may be made regardless of the number of substitutions a team have made already.