How do concussion substitutes work and can the football player come back on the pitch? Rules around Euro 2024 subs

CONCUSSION continues to be a contentious sporting issue with researchers uncovering more worrying detail about its effects.

How different sports and leagues deal with dazed players is constantly evolving – but what are the rules at Euro 2024?

England’s Harry Maguire was substituted after a concussion at the 2022 World CupReuters

Concussion rules were trialled at different competitions before they became enshrined in international football lawRichard Pelham / The Sun

What is a concussion sub in football?

This occurs when a team replaces a concussed player without having to use one of its five permitted substitutes.

The concussion sub is a relatively new addition to world football.

They were first trialled at domestic level in the Premier League, Ligue 1 and America’s Major League Soccer from around 2021 – and were introduced on the global stage at the 2022 World Cup.

On July 1, permanent concussion subs became enshrined in the laws of football.

The Premier League and players’ unions have been lobbying for trials of temporary concussion subs, which would allow players to be tested, replaced but then brought back onto the pitch if they pass medics’ tests.

But that has so far fallen on deaf ears.

A Professional Footballers’ Association spokesperson in March said: “While it’s a positive step that additional concussion substitutions are now being introduced, it’s extremely disappointing that IFAB (International Football Association Board) are still unwilling to let leagues trial temporary concussions subs, as they are requesting.

“Many leagues, unions and — importantly — club medics are aligned in the view that temporary substitutions would be a positive step for player welfare and concussion protocols.”

What is the concussion substitute rule?

If a player cops a head knock and leaves the pitch for assessment, teams at Euro 2024 have two options.

They can opt to inject a set of fresh legs into the game without losing one of their five ordinary substitutes.

The player taken off the pitch will not be able to return.

Otherwise, team medics can assess the player without activating a concussion sub in the hope he can return to play.

But during this time, the team will be a player down on the pitch and therefore at a disadvantage.

The Premier League in March slammed the IFAB’s decision not to allow trials of temporary subs.

A League statement said: “We cannot understand the basis for which it has not been approved.

“We are disappointed that a temporary concussion substitute trial was not approved considering all available scientific evidence and the overwhelming support from Premier League club doctors.”

Brain injury campaigners agreed, with Headway chief executive Luke Griggs arguing: “This system (permanent subs) has repeatedly failed to protect players.

“It relies on either medics making an immediate judgement or for a player to risk exacerbating their brain injury by playing on for 10 to 15 minutes to see how they get on.”

The Premier League trial of concussion substitutes began on February 6 2021 during Matchweek 23

Sheffield United’s Enda Stevens receives treatment for a head injury

How to watch Euro 2024

Matches will be broadcast by both ITV and BBC.

You can see a list of how to watch every game below:

14-Jun Germany v Scotland 8pm ITV

15-Jun Hungary v Switzerland 2pm ITV

15-Jun Spain v Croatia 5pm ITV

15-Jun Italy v Albania 8pm BBC

16-Jun Poland v Netherlands 2pm BBC

16-Jun Slovenia v Denmark 5pm ITV

16-Jun Serbia v England 8pm BBC

17-Jun Romania v Ukraine 2pm BBC

17-Jun Belgium v Slovakia 5pm ITV

17-Jun Austria v France 8pm ITV

18-Jun Turkey v Georgia 5pm BBC

18-Jun Portugal v Czech Republic 8pm BBC

19-Jun Croatia v Albania 2pm ITV

19-Jun Germany v Hungary 5pm BBC

19-Jun Scotland v Switzerland 8pm BBC

20-Jun Slovenia v Serbia 2pm ITV

20-Jun Denmark v England 5pm BBC

20-Jun Spain v Italy 8pm ITV

21-Jun Slovakia v Ukraine 2pm BBC

21-Jun Poland v Austria 5pm ITV

21-Jun Netherlands v France 8pm BBC

22-Jun Georgia v Czech Republic 2pm BBC

22-Jun Turkey v Portugal 5pm ITV

22-Jun Belgium v Romania 8pm ITV

23-Jun Switzerland v Germany 8pm BBC

23-Jun Scotland v Hungary 8pm BBC

24-Jun Albania v Spain 8pm BBC

24-Jun Croatia v Italy 8pm BBC

25-Jun Netherland v Austria 5pm BBC

25-Jun France v Poland 5pm BBC

25-Jun England v Slovenia 8pm ITV

25-Jun Denmark v Serbia 8pm ITV

26-Jun Slovakia v Romania 5pm BBC

26-Jun Ukraine v Belgium 5pm BBC

26-Jun Georgia v Portugal 8pm ITV

26-Jun Czech Republic v Turkey 8pm ITV

All the games will also be available on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Full broadcast details for the knockout rounds of the tournament will be announced in due course.

However, it’s already been decided that ITV will have the first three picks plus the fifth and seventh picks in the Round of 16 games.

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