The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) confirmed that the pink card will appear for the first time in the 2024 Copa America competitions.
The tournament will be held in the United States from June 20 to July 14 with the participation of 16 teams. Through this step, the federation aims to enhance the health and safety of the players.
The new system allows teams to implement additional substitutions to take care of the health of players in cases of suspected head injuries or concussions, in accordance with Article 96 of the tournament regulations.
Teams are required to inform the main referee or the fourth official when a substitution is made due to a suspected concussion, and to use the pink card for this special substitution.
The opportunity for an additional substitution is deducted if a regular substitution is made at the same time, and teams are prohibited from using substitution due to suspected concussion to make a regular substitution if all regular substitution opportunities have been exhausted.
The competing team is automatically given an opportunity for an additional substitution when a substitution is used due to a suspected concussion, provided that this substitution is designated for the same purpose, as it is prohibited to use this additional opportunity for regular substitutions.
A player who suffers a suspected concussion is prohibited from returning to the match or participating in penalty kicks.
He must be taken to the locker room or medical center to receive the necessary care.
Team doctors are required to submit a detailed report detailing the results of the concussion assessment to the Football Association’s Medical Committee within 24 hours, whether the player is substituted or not.
This decision comes as part of CONMEBOL’s efforts to enhance player safety and take seriously potential head injuries during matches.
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