FAI Announce Update to Concussion Guidelines
The Football Association of Ireland have announced significant updates to its player concussion protocol, reinforcing its commitment to player welfare across all levels of the game.
Following extensive consultation with medical professionals, player representatives and leading academics, a comprehensive six-stage process for managing concussion has been developed for both the professional and amateur game.
These updated guidelines, meticulously reviewed and approved by the FAI’s Medical Committee and subsequently the FAI Board, align with the most recent International Consensus Statement on Concussion. The development process also included valuable input from FIFPRO and experienced medical staff from the League of Ireland.
Concussion is a traumatic brain injury leading to a disturbance of brain function. A concussion may result from a direct blow to the head, neck or body, resulting in an impulsive force being transmitted to the brain – this includes indirect blows to the head (e.g., shoulder to shoulder contact). It can impact how a person thinks, feels, behaves and remembers things. Signs and symptoms may present straight away, or they may evolve for up to several days following the injury. There are a broad range of potential signs/symptoms related to concussions (e.g., headache, dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness). A loss of consciousness is not required to diagnose a concussion. Signs and symptoms commonly resolve within days, but in some cases they may be prolonged.
At all levels of football, if a player is suspected of having concussion, they must be immediately removed from the pitch, whether in training or match play.
- No player should return to play on the same day with suspected concussion.
- No player should drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol after a suspected concussion.
- All suspected concussions should be assessed by an appropriately trained healthcare professional prior to a return to football. Those who are suspected of being ‘knocked out’ or have persisting or progressively worsening symptoms such as headache, vomiting or unusual behaviour, need to be reviewed urgently in an accident and emergency department (A&E).
- Any player with a second concussion within 12 months, with a history of multiple concussions, and/or with unusual symptoms (e.g., posttraumatic amnesia, mood disturbance) or prolonged recovery should be assessed (as soon as is practical) and managed by healthcare providers with experience in dealing with complex sports-related concussions. Practitioners should use their clinical judgment to determine whether individuals with a history of autistic spectrum disorder, ADHD or a mental health disorder require specialist input.
FAI Medical Director, Dr Alan Byrne, emphasised that the new protocols are vital for enhancing the recognition of concussion symptoms and ensuring appropriate action is taken.
Speaking about the updated concussion protocol, Dr Byrne said: “Concussion is a traumatic brain injury, and it is absolutely essential that we all know how to recognise its signs and symptoms.
“We undertook a thorough review of our existing concussion guidelines, evaluating them against the latest International Consensus Statement on Concussion. This consensus is established every few years when world experts collaborate to compile a definitive document. We then adapt these global best practices to suit the specific needs of our sport.
“To achieve this, we formed a dedicated working group, comprising medical experts both from within and outside the FAI, to draft the updated protocol. Crucially, we then circulated this draft to key external stakeholders for their input.
“The key message is clear: whether you are a coach, a parent, a player, a referee, or simply a spectator at a football match, it is imperative that you can recognise what concussion looks like and understand the importance of immediate and appropriate action.”
Full Guidance is here:
