Korean J Sports Med.  2020 Sep;38(3):137-142. 10.5763/kjsm.2020.38.3.137.

Incidence and Characteristics of Immediate Substitutions of Injured Players in Korean Professional Football League Matches

• Park KB
• Jung KH
• Kim CR
• Hwang IY
• Jang SM

• KMID: 2506070
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2020.38.3.137

Abstract

Purpose
To identify the incidence and characteristics of immediate substitutions of injured players that occurred during Korean professional football league matches.
Methods
This study included injuries that resulted in immediate substitutions of injured players during Korean professional football league matches. The match broadcasting records were used to check the date of the match, home-away matches, the team to which players belong, the position on the field of play, and the time of injury. The match recording videos were used to evaluate the injury mechanism and the injured area.
Results
In 228 matches, 66 immediate substitutions of injured players occurred, with an incidence rate of 0.3 per match. Total number of substitutions due to injuries most frequently occurred in May, with 15 substitutions in 30 matches; however, after considering the number of substitutions per match in each month, November was the most severe month with 0.53 substitutions after injuries per match. Most frequently injured players were defenders (36.4%), followed by midfielders, forwards, and goalkeepers. Immediate substitutions of injured players took place 32 times in the first half and 34 times in the second half. 51.5% of all injuries were related to collisions, and injuries to the knee and thigh accounted for 45.5% of all injuries.
Conclusion
There were 66 immediate substitutions of injured players during a single season of the Korean professional football league, with 0.3 substitutions after injuries per match. To prevent and manage serious injuries that can occur during a football match, a thorough analysis of risk factors of injuries that lead to immediate substitution is required.

Keyword

Football; Injury; K-league; Substitution

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The number of matches and number of substitutions of injured players in the Korean professional football league matches.

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  Fig. 2 The number of immediate substitutions of injured players and the number of players substituted after injuries in each team. JJU: Jeju United, GNM: Gyeongnam, ICU: Incheon United, DGU: Daegu, SFC: Seongnam, USH: Ulsan Hyundai, JHM: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, GWN: Gangwon, SJS: Sangju Sangmu, SEO: Seoul, SSB: Suwon Samsung Bluewings, PHS: Pohang Steelers.

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  Fig. 3 The number of immediate substitutions of injured players in 15-minute intervals during a match.

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  Fig. 4 Injured areas that resulted in player substitutions.

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