Earlier than the beginning of the present season, the rules on therapy of suspected head accidents was modified to learn:

“The place a participant has a suspected head harm and the referee stops the sport, the official will instantly sign for a physician or physio to enter the pitch in an effort to promote participant welfare. The participant might want to depart the pitch for additional evaluation and stay on the touchline for a minimal 30 seconds after play has restarted.”

At a pre-season briefing, Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer for Skilled Sport Match Officers Restricted (PGMOL), acknowledged that the foundations have been aimed each at bettering participant welfare and stopping gamesmanship.

“What we have mentioned this 12 months is that if a participant presents the indicators to the referee of getting a possible head harm, often that will probably be as a result of the participant goes down holding their head,” Webb mentioned.

“If the referee decides to cease the sport primarily due to considerations round it being a head harm or potential head, then we’ll get the physician or a physio on immediately.

“We need to make certain the participant will get help if they have a real head harm, but in addition there was some feeling as properly that too many occasions, gamers have been taking place holding their heads. The sport was then being interrupted because of that and the participant was completely tremendous.

“That is to guard a participant security, but in addition hopefully it’s going to deter folks from doubtlessly gaming it a bit of bit by getting the sport stopped.”