This summary is based on information posted on the Hagens Berman S Shapiro LLP website and is my unofficial review of the lawsuit I have hash tagged as #TheFIFA5. NOTE: I am not a lawyer, and am merely outlining the suit as I read it. I welcome comments and thoughts. On August 27, 2014, a Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against FIFA, U.S. Youth Soccer Over Concussions made headlines. This lawsuit pits three mothers and two female college students vs FIFA, soccer’s worldwide governing body—the Fèdèration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)—and affiliated soccer organizations in the United States

US Soccer Federation
U.S. Youth Soccer + American Youth Soccer (over 3 US million child and adolescent soccer players)

Note: In 2013, FIFA reported $1.386 billion in revenue. The 2014 World Cup brought FIFA $1.2 billion from U.S. broadcasters. This lawsuit states FIFA has failed to enact the policies and rules needed to protect soccer players. FIFA and the others mentioned…

Failed to adopt effective policies to evaluate and manage concussions, at all levels of the game
Lacked of effective policies poses a greater danger to women and children players, who may more vulnerable to traumatic and long-lasting brain injury
Ignored medical community called for changes over a decade ago
Ignored simple, best-practice guidelines, which have been updated three times since the initial international conference on concussions (FIFA even hosted)

FIFA has made progress…

With Concussion Marketing and policy materials, which tout a commitment to player safety
By implemented policies to address other health threats (cardiac arrest and performance-enhancing drugs)
Hosted 2012 concussion conference that updated concussion guidelines

This lawsuit demands FIFA and others mentioned…

Implement up-to-date guidelines for detection of head injuries
Implement up-to-date RTP after a concussion
Regulation of heading by players under 17 years old
Eliminate heading under 14 years old age groups
Implement a rule change to permit substitution of players for medical evaluation purposes. (Currently, FIFA rules generally allow only three substitutions per game with no clear provision for head injuries. If an athlete bleeds, even from a scrape, removal is required, but no similar rule exists for concussions. FIFA provides no guidance on substitutions in youth games in the U.S.)
Implement medical monitoring for soccer players who received head injuries in the past

photo source: source: http://screamer.deadspin.com/concussed-christoph-kramer-cant-really-remember-world-1604847904