FIFPRO is partnering with digital tech company BrainEye, which has created an app to check players’ brain health.
Around 12 player unions are distributing the app to their members where footballers can check within a minute if they might be suffering from a brain injury.
How the BrainEye app works
The app is based on proven science that has been used by doctors for decades to assess whether someone might be suffering from a brain injury: doctors move their index finger horizontally, asking the patient to follow the movement with their eyes as they shine a flashlight into their eyes to check the pupils.
BrainEye has digitalised this process to make it far more reliable, objective and efficient: the app requires a player to follow a dot's movement on the smartphone for around 30 seconds before the player takes a selfie. The app then compares these test results with a player's base test to analyse if there are any changes.
"The app has been designed in a way that means it's quick and easy for players to use," says Prof Joanne Fielding, BrainEye's Chief Scientist. "We believe that our app is a more objective and accurate way to assess brain health than traditional methods, particularly in settings where a trained medical professional isn't readily available."
If the app identifies changes to brain health, then it shows a red display suggesting that the player should seek the opinion of a medical professional if they are worried about the result. A green screen indicates that the player is in a healthy range.
"It is up to the player and/or the doctor to decide if the player leaves the pitch when the app shows a red display, however we are of the opinion that they should leave the pitch and seek medical attention," Prof Fielding said.
The app also provides a comprehensive summary of the results, including detailed graphics, which a player can share with a doctor or medical staff to assist them with decision making. BrainEye's app is developed by experts and has been tested over 60,000 times. In a soon to be published clinical trial, the app showed 100 percent sensitivity to head trauma.
The importance of identifying a brain injury quickly
A brain injury such as a concussion is a serious health risk. When not treated correctly, it can lead to long-term negative effects such as severe headaches, cognitive issues or depression. For players it can affect the quality of their performance and the length of their career.
When someone sustains a brain injury, they should be removed from play immediately. If a player returns to play too soon, they risk suffering a second-hit syndrome which increases the long-term negative health effects or could even prove to be deadly.
According to research, 63 percent of players suffer from concussion during their career, and 82 percent of those players have more than two concussions. Women’s players are at a higher risk of suffering a concussion than men.
Why FIFPRO and BrainEye collaborate
FIFPRO is also aware that medical support is not always available during practice sessions and matches around the world, during which players might suffer a head injury. BrainEye’s app makes it possible to support players during these moments, which is why FIFPRO started collaborating with the development of the app.
"We are empowering players by providing them with a tool to look after their own health," said FIFPRO’s Chief Medical Officer Prof Dr Vincent Gouttebarge. "The BrainEye app is a valuable tool to make important decisions about a safe return to play. Players can use the app as often as they want and can share all data with whomever they want, including their medical staff or doctor."
Prof Fielding said: "Our app doesn’t replace the existing medical examination, and is not intended to be the only tool used to make a clinical judgement. It empowers players to put their wellbeing first when a doctor isn't present.
"The app has been downloaded by thousands of players around the world and we are already seeing it make a difference to those users who were unfortunate enough to suffer from a head knock. All of the players are now able to track their performance over time."
Positive case studies in Cyprus and Italy
As part of the collaboration with BrainEye, players across FIFPRO member unions will be able to access the BrainEye App for free for 12 months. Since September, up to 12 other FIFPRO unions are making use of this opportunity.
Italian union AIC joined the project last season by distributing the app among players from three third division teams (Serie C). "It showed us that the BrainEye app is a very useful tool," said Stefano Sartori, AIC's Head of Legal. In September, AIC started sharing the app with the entire Serie C, which consists of 60 teams in total. Later this year, the union will make the app available for players in the women's Serie A and B.
"In the top two men's divisions, the players’ medical services are very good, but in the Serie C we know that medical staff is not always available at all practices and matches, and the same goes for women's football and the highest amateur levels," said Sartori. "For players in these leagues, we think the BrainEye app is a very good solution."
In Cyprus, player union PASP noticed that players embraced the app. Spyros Neofytides, the union's Executive President, said: "At first, players were a little hesitant to use an AI app, but we managed to convince them about the benefits. During the season, more and more players started calling us, as they were interested in downloading it."
This season, PASP is going to make the app available to all members playing in the top three men's leagues, the under-19 league, and the women's league. Just like AIC, the Cypriot union is offering the app in their own language. Neofytides said: “During the first season we already had 140 players who downloaded the app, and for this year we have set a target to reach 500 downloads.”
Unions interested in joining this project can reach out to FIFPRO’s Prof Dr Vincent Gouttebarge or BrainEye’s Chief Growth Officer Onn Dodis.
