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Ian Evatt has welcomed calls to introduce permanent concussion substitutes in the EFL, insisting players' health is paramount.
A trial has already been introduced for the Premier League in response to mounting concern over head injuries and the Professional Footballers’ Association want it rolled out across the lower divisions.
The Bolton boss has backed that move and highlighted the sickening injury suffered by Wolves striker Raul Jimenez following a clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz back in November.
Jimenez suffered a fractured skull while Luiz, with his head heavily bandaged, played on but had to be replaced at half-time.
“It’s got to be a good thing because head injuries are very serious,” said the Wanderers boss of the proposal.
“We’ve seen what it can do to people, obviously (Raul) Jimenez at Wolves has suffered a really nasty head injury this season and fortunately for him his health is paramount and he’s recovering well but it shows you what can happen in a split second when you’re playing contact sport.”
The Premier League has
adopted an initiative announced by the International Football Association Board in December where teams will be allowed to make up to two additional substitutions for players with suspected or confirmed concussion – with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number.
Currently, if an EFL side has a player that has suffered suspected concussion, they are reduced to 10 men while checks are made – something Evatt believes is unfair as teams are punished for doing things properly.
He said: “If we can save people by having concussion protocols where the team doesn’t get punished for making sure the head injuries are being assessed properly and not rushed, it changes my opinion as a manager if a player’s down with a head injury and we go down to 10 for a significant period of time being punished for that head injury.
“I don’t really think that’s right or fair, so to get a substitute on in the meantime would be really beneficial and helpful especially as a manager.”
Evatt was glad to see the trial introduced in to the Premier League and said such initiatives usually filter down through the divisions.
However, he did warn that until it is adopted by the EFL, club doctors and physios could be forced to continue to rush assessments of players so their side is not at a disadvantage.
“It normally starts with the Premier League and then filters its way down,” added Evatt of the ruling. “I think if a player gets a head injury and your team has to go down to 10 while that head injury gets assessed properly and/or fixed if there’s a wound there, it’s an unfair advantage to the opposition.
“So for me, you should be allowed to use substitutes to fill that void and make the game fair and equal while they get properly assessed.
“Otherwise you end up rushing the assessment because the physios and the doctors are under pressure from managers because of results and they might not do what’s necessary to make sure the players are 100 per cent healthy to continue.
“So we can avoid that by having a concussion substitute to make sure that managers aren’t putting people under pressure to get the best outcome for the players.”
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A trial has already been introduced for the Premier League in response to mounting concern over head injuries and the Professional Footballers’ Association want it rolled out across the lower divisions.
The Bolton boss has backed that move and highlighted the sickening injury suffered by Wolves striker Raul Jimenez following a clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz back in November.
Jimenez suffered a fractured skull while Luiz, with his head heavily bandaged, played on but had to be replaced at half-time.
“It’s got to be a good thing because head injuries are very serious,” said the Wanderers boss of the proposal.
“We’ve seen what it can do to people, obviously (Raul) Jimenez at Wolves has suffered a really nasty head injury this season and fortunately for him his health is paramount and he’s recovering well but it shows you what can happen in a split second when you’re playing contact sport.”
The Premier League has
adopted an initiative announced by the International Football Association Board in December where teams will be allowed to make up to two additional substitutions for players with suspected or confirmed concussion – with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number.
Currently, if an EFL side has a player that has suffered suspected concussion, they are reduced to 10 men while checks are made – something Evatt believes is unfair as teams are punished for doing things properly.
He said: “If we can save people by having concussion protocols where the team doesn’t get punished for making sure the head injuries are being assessed properly and not rushed, it changes my opinion as a manager if a player’s down with a head injury and we go down to 10 for a significant period of time being punished for that head injury.
“I don’t really think that’s right or fair, so to get a substitute on in the meantime would be really beneficial and helpful especially as a manager.”
Evatt was glad to see the trial introduced in to the Premier League and said such initiatives usually filter down through the divisions.
However, he did warn that until it is adopted by the EFL, club doctors and physios could be forced to continue to rush assessments of players so their side is not at a disadvantage.
“It normally starts with the Premier League and then filters its way down,” added Evatt of the ruling. “I think if a player gets a head injury and your team has to go down to 10 while that head injury gets assessed properly and/or fixed if there’s a wound there, it’s an unfair advantage to the opposition.
“So for me, you should be allowed to use substitutes to fill that void and make the game fair and equal while they get properly assessed.
“Otherwise you end up rushing the assessment because the physios and the doctors are under pressure from managers because of results and they might not do what’s necessary to make sure the players are 100 per cent healthy to continue.
“So we can avoid that by having a concussion substitute to make sure that managers aren’t putting people under pressure to get the best outcome for the players.”
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