Luke Griggs, Interim Chief Executive at brain injury charity Headway, said: “The new guidelines are a positive step forwards in terms of how football protects the brain health of players.
“Football has traditionally been fearful of change, so this willingness to evolve protocols and adapt to emerging research is a welcome development.
“If this initiative is to be a success, the new rules have to be accompanied by an educational campaign that seeks to win hearts and minds. We have to get buy-in at all levels of the game so that players, coaches and parents all understand and support the sound logic behind this sensible move.
“The link between repetitive head impacts and degenerative neurological conditions is now too well established for football to ignore.
“We look forward to learning more about how the impact of this proactive initiative will be monitored as part of the sport’s efforts to safeguard the short and long-term brain health of players.”
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