Major League Soccer gives clubs the option of two additional substitutes during games in the 2021 regular season. Spearheaded by FIFA, the “concussion substitute pilot program” allows clubs two additional subs per team per match to replace players who get a concussion or a suspected concussion. FIFA and IFAB are participating in the trial program, which will run for the next 20 months until August 31, 2022.
According to the announcement, the subs may be used:
- immediately after a concussion occurs or is suspected;
- after an on-field assessment, and/or after an off-field assessment; or
- at any other time when a concussion occurs or is suspected (including when a player has previously been assessed and has returned to the field of play).