Rangers and Scotland star takes up concussion group ambassador role as he recalls 'scary' 2017 experience
The centre-back has joined the fight to raise awareness about the risks of concussion
Rangers defender John Souttar has joined the fight to raise awareness around concussion in sport after recalling his own “scary” experience while playing for Scotland Under-21s.
The centre-back, along with former Scotland rugby international Geoff Cross and Olympic cyclist Neah Evans, has been announced as an athlete ambassador for the Scottish Sports Concussions Advisory Group to help contribute to their education and awareness programme.
Souttar spent a night in hospital in November 2017 after suffering a nasty head injury while captaining the young Scots against Latvia at McDiarmid Park.
“My own experience was bit scary,” the 29-year-old said. “I thought I’d been stretchered off but I’ve since seen picture of me walking off the pitch. My return was very carefully managed and the doctors were great.
“This cause deserves a powerful voice at every level. As ambassador, the focus must be on grassroots awareness, where the real difference is made.”
11 years after the Scottish Sports Concussion Guidance was published. statistics suggest half of sports concussions go unreported and young people aged 10-19 are most affected.
The education programme arose from activism by Peter Robinson, whose 14-year-old son Ben died after suffering an injury during a school rugby match.
Co-chair of the group and founder of ConcussED, Dr Stephanie Adams, commented: “It’s fantastic to have Geoff, Neah and John on board. Concussion education is a life skill - in and outside of sport.
“We need to start learning about this critical topic from a young age. That’s where we can begin to truly shift the culture to respect and protect the brain but also encourage safe, lifelong, sport and exercise participation.”