Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand had to be subbed off within 20 minutes of his side's opening World Cup fixture against England after crashing into his own defender when trying to stop a Harry Kane cross from meeting Raheem Sterling.
The No.1 choice for Carlos Quieroz was down for over 10 minutes before restarting the game in a shock turnaround that drew criticism from Jermaine Jenas, but the Persepolis keeper - from the Persian Gulf Pro League - went down once more just moments after play got underway.
His departure may well spell the end of his tournament due to strict concussion protocols, but it didn't cost the Iranians a substitute due to new rules.
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What are the rules?
Teams can now make a permanent substitute for players with suspected concussions without losing one of the standard five changes.
This allows clubs to still make their alloted other changes and puts player safety at the forefront of the rules. The opposing side - in this case England - will also be allowed to make an extra sub too. This has already been the case in the Premier League since 2021.
The FIFA website also explains extra protocols they have used, stating: "For the first time at a FIFA World Cup, an independent Concussion Assessment and Rehabilitation Service will be offered in Qatar to provide an evidence-based assessment of any player who has suffered a brain injury, including recommendations from concussion experts regarding the player’s return to play."
Beiranvand may well be out of the World Cup, with concussion protocols stating that a player should have 10 days without playing before they can be considered for a return to action, which would see him take no further part if his side fail to make it out of the group stages of the competition.
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