ZURICH: Prioritizing players’ safety at all levels of football, FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) have jointly launched a global concussion awareness campaign titled "Suspect and Protect: No Match is Worth the Risk".
The initiative highlights concussion symptoms to ensure that proper protective measures are in place. Concussion, a serious traumatic brain injury, poses a risk to all players, from professionals to grassroots athletes.
The "Suspect and Protect" campaign aims to educate players, coaches, medical staff, and the public on the dangers of concussion, which may exhibit symptoms up to 72 hours after an incident.
“Concussion is a brain injury and must be treated with the utmost seriousness. Football should be enjoyed safely by everyone, everywhere. By understanding the signs of concussion and treating it correctly, we can prioritise player safety,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The campaign was developed in consultation with FIFA’s medical experts and WHO brain health specialists. It includes specially designed resources for national teams, professional clubs, leagues, and grassroots organisations.
The campaign focuses on raising awareness and recognition, educating about common concussion signs and when to seek medical advice, while also providing an assessment protocol for evaluating players after impacts to the head, face, neck, or body, and offering clear return-to-play guidance following a suspected or confirmed concussion.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says: “Concussion is a public health concern that demands greater awareness and action. WHO is proud to collaborate with FIFA on this initiative to protect footballers' brains worldwide.”
"Suspect and Protect" will be rolled out globally through FIFA’s communication channels, with toolkits provided to 211 FIFA Member Associations for implementation at local levels. The campaign aligns with FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023–2027 and builds on discussions from the recent IFAB AGM.
Under the campaign, players and coaches at all levels are urged to understand that any player exhibiting symptoms of concussion—such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, or memory issues—should immediately leave the pitch and seek medical attention.