Brain injury charity raises concerns over Maguire treatment،
A leading brain injury charity has questioned whether protocols were followed after Manchester United defender Harry Maguire suffered a blow to the head in the first minute of his team’s victory in the Premier League at Fulham on Saturday.
Maguire bent over and looked uncomfortable after being caught on the side of the head by Rodrigo Muniz’s shoulder during a challenge at Craven Cottage.
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He was examined on the pitch for a possible concussion by United’s team doctor – in line with Premier League guidelines – but was cleared to continue, although the England international required a second check after halftime.
The incident once again raised the question of the introduction of “temporary concussion substitutions”, whereby a team could call on a substitute while the injured player is assessed off the field, as they have already done rugby.
“We’ve come a long way since Hugo Lloris was branded a ‘hero’ for urging club doctors to return to the field after suffering a concussion while playing for Tottenham against Everton in 2013,” said Luke Griggs, Managing Director of Headway. said in a statement.
“This shocking incident was a wake-up call for football. We described it at the time as ‘dangerous and irresponsible’, demanding that it be used as a catalyst for change.
“But that progress is eroded with each high-profile incident in which the principle of safety is tossed aside and players are allowed to continue despite signs that a concussion might have occurred.”
There is no suggestion that Manchester United’s medical staff did anything wrong, but Griggs said the incident highlighted once again the need to adopt concussion substitutes across the sport.
“This is a problem linked to the culture of football itself and its stubborn refusal to put the health of players above everything else, including the result of a match,” he said.
“Temporarily replacing concussions would immediately help restore some credibility to the process, but a change in attitude is urgently needed.”
Maguire said he passed concussion tests on the field.
“The doctor did all the tests and I knew where I was and I answered all the questions and completed them, [the concussion protocols] fortunately,” he said.
“If the doctor says I can continue, then I will always continue.”
Earlier this year, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rejected a trial for temporary concussion replacements in the Premier League, Ligue 1 and MLS.
World governing body FIFA is continuing its trials of permanent substitutions indefinitely, whereby a team can have an extra substitute available in the event a player is withdrawn due to a probable concussion.
