Additional permanent“concussion substitutes”
Protocol B• Two "concussion substitutes" per team
• Additional substitute for the opposing
teamVersion 3, 8 February 2021

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Concussion substitutes – Protocol B

Principles•

Each team is permitted to use a maximum of two “concussion substitutes” in amatch.

•A “concussion substitution” may be used regardless of the number of substitutes
already used.

•In competitions where the number of named substitutes is the same as themaximum number of “normal” substitutes that can be used, the “concussionsubstitute” and the associated "additional" substitute for the opposing team (seebelow) can be a player who has previously been substituted and who may be used
at any time, regardless of the number of substitutes already used.

•When a “concussion substitute” is used, the opposing team then has the option
to use an “additional” substitute for any reason.

Procedure•The substitution procedure operates in accordance with Law 3 – The Players(except as outlined otherwise below).

•A “concussion substitution” may be made:o immediately after a concussion occurs or is suspected;
o after an on-field assessment, and/or after an off-field assessment; oro at any other time when a concussion occurs or is suspected (including when aplayer has previously been assessed and has returned to the field of play).

•If a team decides to make a “concussion substitution”, the referee/fourth official
is informed, ideally by using a substitution card/form of a different colour.

•The injured player is not permitted to take any further part in the match (includingkicks from the penalty mark) and should, where possible, be accompanied to thechanging room and/or a medical facility.

•The opposing team is informed by the referee/fourth official that it now has theoption of using an “additional” substitute and an additional substitutionopportunity.

•This option may be used concurrently with the “concussion substitution” made by
the opposing team or at any time thereafter (except as outlined otherwise by theLaws of the Game).

Concussion substitutes – Protocol B

Substitution opportunities•

Making a “concussion substitution” is separate from any limit on the number of“normal” substitution opportunities.

•However, if a team makes a “normal” substitution at the same time as a“concussion substitution”, this will count as one of its “normal” substitution
opportunities.

•Once a team has used all its “normal” substitution opportunities, it cannot use a“concussion substitution” opportunity to make a “normal” substitution.

•Where a team makes a “concussion substitution”, the opposing team receives an“additional” substitute and an additional substitution opportunity. This additional
opportunity can only be used for the “additional” substitute, not for any “normal”
substitute(s).

Match officials
The referee (and the other match officials, especially the fourth official):•

is not part of the team's decision-making process as to whether a player should
be substituted or not, nor whether a player should be replaced by a “normal”
substitute or a “concussion substitute”.

•must not decide whether an actual or suspected injury qualifies for a “concussionsubstitute” to be used.

•should give appropriate support where a player has an actual or suspected injury,including informing the team captain/coach/medical staff if they suspect a player
needs assessment/treatment.

•should support a decision by the team captain/coach/medical staff that an injured
player must not continue playing – this may require the referee to delay the restartof play until the player has left the field of play.

•must inform the appropriate authorities if a concern is expressed that a“concussion substitute” was potentially used incorrectly.