Fresh concerns "have been raised about whether the new rules on concussion in football are adequate after Thibaut Courtois was permitted to play on for Chelsea against Arsenal on Sunday despite later being admitted to hospital for suspected concussion," according to Jeremy Wilson of the London TELEGRAPH. Brain injury association Headway "asked whether the independent new tunnel doctor that officiates at Premier League match was involved in the decision to keep Courtois on the pitch after he was allowed to continue following only a 56 second evaluation." The new rules state that "a player should immediately be taken off if there is even a suspected loss of consciousness." Headway CEO Peter McCabe said, "The new rules introduced this season were designed to ensure no risks to players’ health were taken. They clearly state that if there is any suspicion of the player having sustained a concussion, they must be removed from the field of play, and not allowed to return. This incident calls into question whether these rules are working effectively. For example, was the third ‘tunnel doctor’ consulted on the decision to allow Courtois to continue? If so, did he or she agree that there was no suspicion of concussion?" Chelsea is adamant that it made all the necessary checks and that Manager Jose Mourinho "was not involved in the decision-making process" (TELEGRAPH, 10/6).
