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The Fèdèration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and other soccer organizations have been hit with a class action lawsuit for allegedly failing to take effective measures to manage concussions that take place during soccer games and practice.
“Injuries are an unfortunate part of soccer,” the FIFA class action lawsuit says. “Certain injuries, or the impacts from them, are preventable and the governing soccer authorities have the power to enact and enforce rules that would prevent or minimize injuries. This case arises from the failure of soccer’s governing authorities to take steps to reduce injuries.”
In addition to FIFA, the United States Soccer Federation Inc., US Youth Soccer Association Inc., American Youth Soccer Organization, National Association of Competitive Soccer Clubs Inc. d/b/a/ US Club Soccer, and the California Youth Soccer Association are also named as defendants in the soccer concussion class action lawsuit.
According to the FIFA class action lawsuit, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Approximately 8 million youth play soccer in the United States. However, soccer is also associated with a high number of concussions that occur while playing the sport.
“In 2010, more high school soccer players suffered concussions than basketball, baseball, wrestling, and softball players combined, according to the Center for Injury Research and Policy in Columbus, Ohio,” the concussion class action lawsuit says. “In that year, female soccer players suffered 25,953 concussions, and male players, 20,247 concussions.”
The FIFA class action lawsuit asserts that there has been international consensus as early as 2004 about the best practices for diagnosing concussions and treating players with concussions. The plaintiffs allege the soccer organizations have failed to implement and enforce best practices for concussion management, putting their players at significant risk.
The concussion class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of current and former soccer players. It does not seek monetary damages. Instead, the goal of the concussion class action lawsuit is to change the rules of soccer and establish a medical monitoring program to reduce the risks of concussion-related conditions. Specifically, the plaintiffs want the soccer organizations to improve their methods of diagnosing and treating concussed players and change their policies about determining how soon a player can return to the game after suffering a concussion.
The soccer concussion class action lawsuit also takes issue with the organizations’ alleged failure to address the significant risks posed to players under the age of 17. Because their brains are still developing, they face an increased risk of long-term damage from concussions.
“Recent medical evidence indicates that the developing brain is more vulnerable to traumatic brain injury (‘TBI’) and has poorer outcomes after TBI,” the concussion class action lawsuit says. “After TBI, children have altered educational and social development and lower IQ and grade point average.”
The plaintiffs are represented by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP and Minami Tamaki LLp.
The FIFA Concussion Class Action Lawsuit is Rachel Mehr, et al. v. Fèdèration Internationale de Football Association a/k/a “FIFA,” et al., Case No. 3:14-cv-03879, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
