The PFA believe the current rules around concussions substitutes in football are not working and “are failing to prioritise player safety”.
The union made the statement in the wake of Leeds defender Robin Koch’s head injury during Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Koch collided with Man United midfielder Scott McTominay in the 13th minute of the game at Elland Road, the incident drawing blood. The defender was treated and allowed to carry on playing before eventually being substituted after 31 minutes.
Football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), approved the trial of concussion substitutes in December 2020 and they were introduced to the Premier League last year.
But the PFA said this morning: “The injury to Leeds United’s Robin Koch demonstrates again that the current concussion protocols within football are failing to prioritise player safety.
“The ‘if in doubt, sit them out’ protocol is not being applied consistently within the pressurised environment of elite competitive football.
“We see frequent incidents of players returning to play with a potential brain injury, only to be removed shortly afterwards once symptoms visibly worsen.
“As the representative voice of players in England, we have been clear to IFAB that we want to see the introduction of temporary concussion substitutes.
“Temporary concussion substitutes will allow medical teams additional time and an appropriate environment to make an initial assessment.
“Introducing temporary substitutes would allow a match to restart with neither side numerically disadvantaged, reducing pressure on players and medical teams to make quick decisions on whether an injured player continues.
“Put simply, the current rules set by IFAB are not working, and players are being put at risk.”