Play on or send off? Footballers' union to decide on 'concussion protocol'

Footballers who suffer head injuries can only return to the pitch with the approval of an independent doctor, union suggests.

16:06 14 July 2014

FIFPro, the footballer’s union, has called an investigation into concussion protocols during matches.

An editorial in The Lancet Neurology says that the decision over whether a concussed player can go back to play should be made by an independent doctor and not by the coach or the player.

"Because signs and symptoms of concussion can be delayed, removing an athlete when there is any suspicion of injury would seem to be the safest approach," the journal editors wrote.

The call for an investigation was prompted by Uruguay’s Alvaro Pereira who was allowed to return to the pitch after he was knocked unconscious by a blow to the head.

Mr Antonio Belli, reader in neurotrauma at the University of Birmingham said players don't understand how dangerous concussions can be.

"When players return to the pitch and continue playing, they are sending out the wrong message. There are lots of medical reasons not to continue."

According to experts, head injuries can lead to dementia and other neurological degenerative diseases.