Auckland FC captain, Hiroki Sakai was struck by a ball to the head in the 46th minute of the game against Perth Glory on Sunday, January 12 (NZ time).
After receiving attention from the medical team, it was determined that Sakai suffered a concussion and was promptly substituted with player welfare in mind.
In line with A-League concussion protocols, Sakai will now observe a minimum eight day stand down period making him ineligible for the Round 15 game against Melbourne City at Go Media on Saturday, January 18th.
After returning from Perth, Sakai will enjoy two days off with the rest of the team. He will then be assessed and will need to complete a concussion return to play protocol before rejoining full team training.
