By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER
Published: 15:01 EST, 10 November 2025 | Updated: 15:01 EST, 10 November 2025
Football is 'unfathomably' ignoring its own warning signs that temporary concussion substitutes are necessary, a leading brain injury charity have said, after a horrific head collision involving two Bournemouth players in their loss to Aston Villa.
Cherries team-mates Adam Smith and Tyler Adams collided at speed early in the game, though only one of the two was substituted. Smith was replaced, while Adams carried on and completed the full 90 minutes in the 4-0 defeat by Villa.
While permanent concussion substitutions are now a fixture in football, the game's lawmakers IFAB have resisted introducing the temporary option, where a player would leave the field for a more thorough examination in the privacy of the changing room.
The idea is a substitute would be allowed to temporarily replace him until the injured player is passed fully fit to return to the field.
Luke Griggs, chief executive of Headway UK, told Daily Mail Sport: 'The fact that this incident occurred between two team-mates is a reminder of just how easily a brain injury can be sustained on the football pitch, and we wish Adam Smith a speedy recovery from his concussion.
'It is clear from reactions of players and fans that they recognised the potential severity of the clash of heads. But whilst it is encouraging that a cautious approach was taken in withdrawing Adam from the game, many fans were left questioning the decision to leave his team-mate Adams on the pitch.
Bournemouth players Adam Smith and Tyler Adams suffered a nasty clash of heads on Sunday
Smith was the only of the two players to be substituted after his head was left dripping in blood
Adams stayed on and completed the full 90 minutes despite the high-speed head collision
'This incident once again highlights the challenges medics face in making immediate concussion assessments on the pitch.
'Factors such as the intense pressure and scrutiny of having to make on-pitch diagnoses, particularly with the evolving nature of traumatic brain injuries, make this task extremely difficult.
'This exacerbated by football's unfathomable refusal to improve the situation by introducing temporary concussion substitutes.
'Temporary concussion substitutes would not only be in the best interests of players, giving medics more time in a better environment to assess for a potential brain injury, but also give reassurance to team-mates and fans that welfare of players is paramount.'
The Premier League were among the football organisations who previously expressed their disappointment that IFAB did not approve a trial of temporary concussion substitutes after their annual meeting in 2023, with the Prem saying at the time that they were 'convinced it should go ahead at the earliest possible opportunity in the interests of player welfare'.
BournemouthAston Villa