EWJ June 2024 web - Journal - Page 24
Tackling Health and Safety in Sport:
A New Era of Accountability for
Governing Bodies and Participants
Kevin Clancy and Yaser Razouk explore the ongoing practical and legal challenges faced by
sporting governing bodies and individuals alike regarding concussion management.
In the picturesque setting of Loch Lomond, Scotland,
the International Football Association Board (IFAB)
held its annual general meeting on 2 March 2024.
A significant decision was taken: the permanent
incorporation of concussion substitutes into the Laws
of the Game. This change, allowing additional substitutes to manage suspected concussions, marks a crucial development in sports concussion management
and reflects the growing body of medical research
advocating for player safety.
It also reflects a wider trend of implementation of
health and safety measures by sporting governing
bodies.
We previously looked at the role of governing bodies
in managing concussions in an article written by
Matthew Phillip. This article looks at the latest developments in tackling health and safety in sport and explores the ongoing practical and legal challenges faced
by sporting governing bodies and individuals alike.
Recent health and safety developments in sport
Recent scientific studies in football have found that
players who head the ball more frequently have a
greater risk of reduced cognitive performance.
Columbia University’s two-year study of football
players in New York found that those who headed the
ball frequently, around 1,400 or more times in two
years, showed significant changes in brain structure.
This change in the brain structure may be part of the
early stages of future neurodegenerative disorders.
Governing bodies across the UK have recognised
these risks.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) now prohibits
heading the ball the day before and after a game for
professional footballers, with a complete ban on heading in training for players under the age of 12. Similarly, the English Football Association (FA) has
introduced a trial ban on deliberate heading in
matches for players aged 12 and under, with hopes of
making it a permanent rule in season 2024/25 with
IFAB’s backing.
However, these changes do not come without additional challenges. Critics argue that such bans may encourage dangerous play by players who use their feet
(instead of their heads) in high ball situations.
On the other hand, supporters highlight the potential
long-term benefits for cognitive performance and skill
development. Balancing these factors against a backdrop of growing medical evidence poses a major
challenge for governing bodies.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU), Welsh Rugby
Union (WRU) and World Rugby face allegations of
failing to protect players from permanent injury.
World cup winner Steve Thompson, along with over
450 players, has raised a legal claim against the rugby
authorities for negligence. Steve Thompson has suffered from early-onset dementia and memory loss