After an experiment proposed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) last season, an additional substitution during a match - in the event of concussion - will be allowed for this season, according to article 588 of the competitions.

- Each team is allowed to use only one 'concussion substitute' during a match.

- The use of this 'concussion substitute' is possible regardless of the number of substitutes already used.

- The use of a 'concussion substitute' is independent of the number of 'normal' substitution opportunities.

- Any concussion that occurs during an official LFP match requires treatment by the team doctor or the doctor of the opposing team or, failing that, by the field doctor during the three minutes provided for in article 588 of the LFP regulations.

Procedure during the match

The main referee must interrupt the match to allow the injured player to be assessed by his doctor. Any player suffering from a head injury that requires assessment for possible concussion will only be allowed to return to play following this assessment if the team doctor (or the doctor responsible for resuscitation in the absence of the team doctor) expressly confirms to the referee that he is fit to do so.

A 'concussion substitution' may be made:

- immediately after a concussion or potential concussion situation.

- at the end of an initial three-minute period of assessment on the pitch and/or at the end of the assessment off the pitch.

- or at any other time in the event of a known or potential concussion (e.g. if a player has already been assessed and has returned to play).

- If a team decides to make a 'concussion substitution', it must inform the referee or the fourth official verbally and indicate this on the substitution card by writing 'concussion' on it.

- The player being replaced is not allowed to take part in the rest of the match (or even in a possible penalty shoot-out).

- If a team makes a 'normal' substitution at the same time as a 'concussion substitution', both are counted as one 'normal' substitution opportunity.

- The player being replaced must be attended to by the doctor of the club to which he belongs, or the doctor of the opposing team if his doctor is absent, or by the doctor responsible for resuscitation.

Post-match procedure

- The declaration of the concussion to the FFF medical directorate must be made by the club doctor and is compulsory.

- The match delegate must record the concussion replacement information on the match report, for transmission to the FFF medical directorate.

- After the player has been released, the doctor must examine him more thoroughly to confirm - or not - the diagnosis of concussion in accordance with the recommendations of the FFF concussion protocol. Medical management of the concussion is organised by the club doctor in accordance with best practice in the days following the player's release for concussion.

- It is mandatory that an expert examination be carried out within 72 hours of the concussion by a doctor who is on the FFF's official list of concussion experts.

- The club doctor will forward the date of the assessment, the name of the expert doctor and the conclusion of the assessment to the FFF medical directorate.

- If the concussion expert confirms the concussion, the player is eligible for treatment under article 588 of the LFP regulations.

- If the concussion expert does not confirm the concussion diagnosis, the player may be reinstated in the squad.

- The FFF medical director shall submit a report to the LFP competitions directorate confirming that the player has been removed as part of the additional replacement for concussion.

All replacements made within the framework of this experiment will be analysed a posteriori by the FFF Medical Department to verify the concussion protocol.