Awareness campaign: FIFA wants to raise awareness about concussions

FIFA, the world football association, is launching an awareness campaign on the dangers of concussions. Under the motto “Suspect and protect: No game is worth the risk”, the campaign, together with the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to raise awareness of the health risks and symptoms of traumatic brain injuries that pose a risk to players. It also contains guidelines for a safe return after a suspected or confirmed concussion.

“A concussion is a traumatic brain injury and should always be taken seriously. By knowing the signs of a concussion, being aware of the risks and treating a concussion correctly, you can help ensure that player safety is the top priority,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The campaign is aimed at everyone from professional to children’s and grassroots football.

Concussions are a major risk, especially in contact sports such as boxing, ice hockey, rugby and American football. The issue is also becoming more and more of a focus in football, with some experts calling for a ban on headers. In the USA, headers were already banned in youth sports for children under the age of eleven as a precautionary measure.

Proven possible long-term effects of concussions include the earlier onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, as well as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive degenerative disease of the brain. “We all need to talk about concussions and know the dangers. “It can save lives,” said former Brazilian international player David Luiz. One of the most sensational concussions in football was suffered by then German international player Christoph Kramer in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina.

At a meeting in March, the rule makers of the International Football Association Board (Ifab) decided, among other things, that, regardless of the substitutions already made, there could be an additional substitution if a concussion was suspected.