Spokesman Luke Griggs told BBC Sport: "It is hugely disappointing that we are once again talking about concussion rather than the game itself. "Concussion is notoriously difficult to diagnose. The symptoms may be hidden and require the individual to be honest about how they're feeling, while they can also be delayed in their presentation. "Assessing a player for three minutes - or even five, as was the case with Jan Vertonghen - does not allow for medical staff to make a reliable diagnosis, particularly when this is conducted on the pitch under the gaze of tens of thousands of fans eager for the game to resume." "We believe the time has come for football to introduce temporary concussion substitutions that would allow for longer off-pitch assessments to be conducted," added Griggs. "In addition, independent doctors with expertise in concussion and head injuries should make the ultimate decision as to whether or not a player is fit to continue. "Not every head injury will result in a concussion. But allowing players to continue while showing clear signs of discomfort following a head injury is contrary to the 'if in doubt, sit it out' principle at the heart of all effective concussion protocols."
Exactly. As they were up financial **** creek Levy thought he could take the piss. Not for the first, and I don’t suppose the last time, it backfired spectacularly.
Completely agree. The Laws need to be changed to allow a temporary substitution while a proper assessment can be carried out.
Years ago, I was involved in a personal injury claim, which turned out to be fraudulent, but involved a significant amount of research on the effects of blows to the head. Basically, it's a complete minefield, even for experienced doctors and can lead to extensive, life altering conditions arising significantly after the original injury, where there are no such indications to the treating doctor. Jan walked away but he's not necessarily clear of a possible reaction. Jan's reaction after he returned to the pitch doesn't mean anyone missed anything when assessing him. Contact sports are dangerous and players play with all manner of injuries. I played on after a kick to the head and collapsed hours later and lost the use of my left arm and leg and spent a considerable time in hospital and rehab, as the bruising to my brain recovered. I felt okay in the immediate aftermath. I've had other blows to the head that were just as hard and did no discernible damage (or not - you be the judge). If all danger of head injuries was to be removed, heading would be banned and bouncers in cricket and any blow to the head would see a player rested for weeks after. Rugby and boxing would immediately cease to exist. At present, there are doctors at fights but that doesn't prevent deaths because it's impossible to get it right every time. Maybe, we all should commit to the suggestion but it's possible that will miss cases too. Hopefully the saliva testing can reach a level of certainty....let's hope so.
I hadn't realised Ajax have the Dutch cup final against Willem II on Sunday afternoon, kick off at 17.00. Willem are comfortably mid-table in the league with nothing to play for, but haven't reached the final since 2005, not winning a major trophy in decades. I imagine they'll be well up for it and could (hopefully) give Ajax a tough time. We face B'mouth in the early Saturday kick off. More than 24 hours extra recovery could be crucial to our threadbare team.
And my reply stands Isn't it amazing how we have all these medical experts watching football. People who can apparently spot concussion from 200 yards. This is the age of 'I am entitled to my opinion' and most of these opinions are based on nothing more than hot air.
Isn't it amazing that you're on a forum built for discussion, yet are taken aback when you encounter opinions.
I wouldn't say taken aback, it is after all the norm to have an opinion. Discussion is the key. If you air dubious opinions in a discussion do not be surprised if others counter them. The current world encourages people to express opinions, it's a substitute for power which sadly we give to the wrong people because most people do not take the trouble to properly research their opinions. You are entitled to your opinion as the mantra goes. I on the other hand am entitled to my facts.
I think having looked into this more, it does appear that our medical staff followed 'protocol', but that said protocol is still - years on from the uproar in 2013 when Hugo (us again!) played with concussion - woefully inadequate and poorly thought-out. That was the gist of my initial response to you: the opinions of a qualified expert, rather than an angry CK pissed off at our injury record and still in shock at the state of his long-standing (staggering?) favourite player. The idea of a temporary substitution while a proper and calm assessment is carried out is both elegant and simple, and unlikely to encounter much opposition from other teams. It also allows for the game to remain a contact sport - which it should be - while expanding the parameters of 'protocol' to first and foremost safeguard the player's well-being, rather than the well-being of the crowd and millions watching at home who just want to get on with the game. If every player who suffered a serious blow to the head immediately went off for a minimum of 10 minutes, replaced instantly with a temporary substitute, I see that as a win-win. The one gaping hole in the theory is: what if that substitute does something stupid and gets sent off in that 10mins? The idea of having an independent adjudicator is also as sensible one, as a team's medical staff will always feel pressured into giving the green light even when the player is on amber at best. Again, another simple, pretty cost-effective solution. Now that these things have been pointed out - by an actual expert - I guess I am more shocked than angry that they haven't been made policy.
It's just changing times CK. This society is risk adverse. The medics now think it is their job to tell us all how to live our lives while they themselves advocate the use of drugs over a healthy lifestyle. Most Doctors have a deeper knowledge of drugs than they do of nutrition. Living is dangerous for some people very dangerous. People want to ban boxing, mountaineering, motorsport, contact in rugby and football and so on. Smokers have been ostracized and banned from pubs and on it goes. Best to stay in bed, but take care when you get up.
Then the player with the head injury doesn't get to return. Suspension, fine, etc. still apply to the player that received the red.
Problem is that we all know certain clubs would be up in arms at the thought of a temporary sub scoring against them, only to return to the bench fifteen minutes later Of course, they'd never complain if they were the beneficiaries of the same scenario...
