The Premier League has ramped up pressure on rulemakers to introduce temporary concussion substitutes - with 18 out of 20 clubs calling for a trial to start next season.
Sportsmail understands that a strongly-worded letter was sent to IFAB ahead of Saturday's AGM with signatures from doctors at all bar West Ham and Aston Villa.
In January - to much outcry - IFAB refused permission for a trial in a move columnist and campaigner Chris Sutton said ‘beggared belief’.
The FA and PFA had backed a request which also included Ligue 1 and MLS but they were left stunned when IFAB turned it down, stating that they preferred to concentrate on existing trials of permanent concussion subs
But, in what is a significant move, the Premier League’s clubs are now attempting to force a trial through.
The introduction of temporary subs is one of the two outstanding points on the seven-point charter Sportsmail launched with its campaign for football to tackle dementia in late 2020.
Ex-Celtic, Blackburn and Norwich striker Sutton, instrumental in that campaign, praised the Premier League and the club medics who, along with the PFA, signed the letter. ‘Good on the Premier League and the PFA,’ he said. ‘Hopefully IFAB sees sense. It is basically common sense. I know FIFA said they conducted a survey and 71 per cent of team doctors favoured the permanent model. I’d love to speak to them and hear their reasons because that doesn’t add up. It’s obvious and it’s pleasing to see support from Premier League doctors. This will come in eventually. The worry is how many people are harmed before it does.’
The letter stated that the top flight wants to start a trial next season. It made clear the view that temporary subs enhance player welfare and in-game management. Those who signed the letter also believe that the temporary model allows for players to be taken into a controlled environment to be assessed and provides more time for video footage to be reviewed.
The success of temporary subs in other sports was also be mentioned. Dr Adam White, PFA Head of Brian Health, said, ‘This letter, from the players' union and the Premier League, shows that we are united in our efforts to improve how brain injuries are managed during games.
‘At the PFA, we've talked to our members. The results of a recent consultation are clear, with nearly 80% of players supporting a trial for temporary concussion substitutes. This feedback reflects what we see as a common-sense next step to prioritise player safety. ‘There is a real difficulty when football's lawmakers prevent us from taking the necessary steps to protect players. We believe it's a fundamental issue that needs to be addressed.’