Football: CONMEBOL innovates with introduction of pink card for concussions
The CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) recently unveiled a new addition to its matches: the pink card, which will be trialed during the upcoming Copa America 2024, scheduled from June 20 to July 14.
This card will be used to signal an additional substitution, particularly in cases of suspected concussion in a player. This initiative, announced in an official statement by the South American Football Confederation, aims to strengthen safety protocols during matches.
According to these new rules, an extra substitution will be allowed in the event of concussion or head trauma. The main referee or the fourth official will be immediately informed of the need for a substitution, signaled by the use of the pink card, specially designed for this purpose.
An important provision of this new rule is that the opposing team will also be allowed an additional substitution in response to the one made for a concussion.
Furthermore, it is specified that the player affected by the concussion will not be allowed to return to the field or participate in penalty shootouts. They will be attended to by the medical staff and, if possible, escorted to the locker room or a medical center for a thorough evaluation.
Finally, to prevent potential simulations of concussions, a medical report from an independent physician must be submitted to CONMEBOL. This measure aims to ensure the health and safety of players, as well as the integrity of the competitions.
