Jureidini wants additional subs for concussed players

Should the Jamaica Premier League clear the final hurdle to begin play this season, Harbour View FC general manager Clyde Jureidini wants the league to try the use of concussion substitutions for the campaign.

The English Premier League (EPL) became the first league to use two additional substitutions in the event of concussion-related injuries during this past week's fixtures separate and apart from the standard three substitution rule. It will be enforced for the remainder of the season. The International Football Association Board approved the trial last December and the EPL along with the Women's Super League and the FA Cup will be among the competitions to institute this practice.

Juredini says that the landscape has changed since the nearly year-long hiatus from top-flight football and with the health of players being a priority, the use of substitutions must be applied and not just considered.

Restructured league

"It should be [implemented]. It's too important not to start a restructured league in 2021 [without] those protocols. We are going into a new frontier because nobody has come back to play sports after a year's rest," Jureidini told STAR Sports.

Calls for concussion substitutions have increased worldwide given recent head injuries in the EPL specifically to Arsenal's David Luiz and Wolves Raul Jimenez after a collision during their match last November. Head of the Jamaica Football Federation referees' committee Victor Stewart said previously that they would not have any objections in applying to take part and Juredini says that any potential restart must take the players safety seriously in all aspects.

"So there is a lot of unknown, there is a lot of grey hairs and we should be taking the steps to protect the health of the players and also against the COVID 19 pandemic," he said.

Meanwhile, the 2019/20 National Premier League season was suspended last March because of the pandemic and then subsequently cancelled. Previous attempts to restart play late last year were unsuccessful because of not solidifying COVID-9 protocols and despite the Government authorising the return of sports on a case-by-case basis, there is still no timeline as to when or if they will be able to return.

Jureidini says that because he expects a difficult schedule for the season and the effects it will have on the players, he believes that all measures to ease the strain on teams should be implemented such as five substitutions per game which has already been mandated by FIFA as well as strict enforcement of COVID-19 protocols. Professional Football Jamaica Limited chairman Christopher Williams said recently that they are in the process of applying for match days and are awaiting approval.