‘Even if it doesn’t cause any immediate trauma, we know that in the long term, repeated shocks can have harmful effects. Personally, I don’t know if I’ll live to be 100, but I do know that I’ve damaged my body. The dangers of headers need to be taught on all amateur football pitches and to young people, said Raphaël Varane about head injuries in football. Apparently, the Frenchman’s claim has echoed far and wide and – not even two months later – it has already made an impact.As CONMEBOL announced in its statement regarding the Article 96th of the official regulations, a potential additional substitution would be available to coaches during the Copa America 2024 tournament in case of a concussion or a head trauma. In addition, this revolution shall apply to all the competitions under the aegis of CONMEBOL.##NAJAVA_MECA_8121429##This innovative rule will also include the introduction of another card. Hence, apart from yellow and red cards, we will now have a pink card, or a pink substitution pass, as it is originally called. Interestingly, the pink card will be in the hands of the coaches, instead of referees. Namely, once a head trauma happens the coach will be able to inform the fourth official or the referee of the injury by using the pink card. However, the team doctors will be obliged to provide a medical report to CONMEBOL in 24 hours at the most, whereas the injured player will have to go straight to the changing room or be taken to the hospital.’The substitution for concussion will take place regardless of the number of substitutions until the moment it happens,’ CONMEBOL announced. ‘When the concussion substitution takes place, the opposing team will automatically be allowed to make an additional substitution.’🚨BREAKING: The #Conmebol announced a new rule that will be applied in the Copa America.If a team uses all five substitutes and one of its players suffers from a concussion, it can make a sixth substitute.In this case, the referee will show the pink card to inform the crowd. pic.twitter.com/VuZImZu1pn— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) May 21, 2024 Nevertheless, this is not the first time the world of football faces with a rule like this, since the similar one has been used in Major League Soccer since 2021.After the introduction of VAR which has helped to reduce the number of hard fouls and, thus, the number of injuries, this rule is also intended to protect the players to the highest extent and, at the same time, enable the teams to have as good and equal conditions as possible.
