- The United States is preparing to host the 16-team Copa America next month
- Organizers have announced that a new map will be used during the tournament
- IAN LADYMAN: The Premier League title race was on the rocks, it’s not boring compared to other European leagues! – Listen to the It all starts! podcast
A pink card will be used at this summer’s Copa America after organizers adopted a new rule ahead of the tournament.
South American soccer’s governing body CONMEBOL announced the rule, which will be in effect throughout the tournament in the United States.
The pink card will be part of a system where a team can receive an extra substitute during matches.
CONMEBOL said the potential sixth replacement could be awarded in case of suspected head injury and concussion.
The rule requires the referee or fourth official to be notified, with the official waving a pink card as part of the system.
A pink card has been introduced and will be used by referees during this summer’s Copa America
The new rule will be applied during the Copa America in the United States, which starts next month
The rule requires referees to be notified of a possible concussion, with a pink card shown
“The CONMEBOL Directorate of Competitions and Operations has announced that, to the five changes per team allowed by the regulations, a potential sixth will be added to ensure the health of the footballers,” a statement said.
‘This is an additional replacement if head trauma and concussion are suspected.
‘For this, the main referee or the fourth referee must be informed and a pink card will be used.’
Once the concussion substitute is made, the other team is also given an additional substitute per rule.
Teams are also given an ‘extra substitution option’, which can only be used for the additional substitution assigned.
Organizers have confirmed that players suspected of suffering concussion will not be able to return to the field after being substituted.
After the substitution, the player is taken to the locker room or a medical center.
Team doctors must complete and send to CONMEBOL’s medical committee a form within 24 hours of the match, detailing the details of the concussion, regardless of whether the player has been substituted or not.
The other team will be assigned one additional substitution after the change has been made
CONMEBOL’s move comes as football’s governing bodies face increasing pressure to tighten rules around head injuries and concussion.
The use of the pink card follows the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) approval of permanent concussion replacements in March.
The law will officially come into effect from July 1, but the body says competitions starting before that date can implement the protocol earlier.
This allowed the pink card to be used during the Copa America, with the tournament running from June 20 to July 14.
However, IFAB has so far resisted the possible introduction of temporary concussion replacement products.
The pink card is the last to be introduced into the game, along with the familiar yellow and red cards.
Recent years have also seen the introduction of white cards, which have been used on rare occasions to emphasize sporting gestures and fair play in the game.