Dominik Szoboszlai demands UEFA changes protocols after sickening Barnabas Varga injury
Dominik Szoboszlai has slammed the slow response from medical staff after his teammate Barnabas Varga suffered a grave injury during Hungary's Euro 2024 win over Scotland.
Varga was involved in a horrific collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn, which left the 29-year-old Hungarian lying motionless in the penalty area.
4
Both sets of players immediately gestured for medical attention and then held up sheets to shield Varga from view as he was tended to and stretchered off by medics, with the game being paused for around seven minutes.
The striker is now in a stable condition and Hungary manager Marco Rossi has confirmed he will need surgery for a facial fracture and will miss the remainder of Euro 2024.
But Hungary captain and Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai was not satisfied with the way the incident was dealt with.
Medical staff were seen walking toward the injured player after the collision and he specifically criticised the delay in response time.
Read More in Euro 2024
"He’s okay, he’s in hospital," he said after the game.
"He needs some surgery on his face and nose but, yeah, he’s going to have the surgery tomorrow.
"It looked bad, it was bad, he felt bad.
"I don’t really know what the protocol is. I don’t know how it works but if our doctor says we need (to go on) immediately to someone to help, then I don’t think they should walk.
Most read in Euro 2024
4
4
"It’s not my decision but I think we need to change something that even if somebody is on the ground and you see that it was a big crash then just go in, even if the referee is saying don’t come in. Just go in.
‘"And if you see that it’s nothing serious, then you can just go down and it’s finished.
"But seconds can help a lot."
Simon Jordan smirks as a devastated Jim White falls to his knees following Hungary's 100th minute winner against Scotland at Euro 2024
UEFA have released a statement defending itself for their response to the incident last night, insisting they followed the proper medical procedures.
In response to the criticism, UEFA said: "With regards to the medical intervention following the head injury suffered by Barnabas Varga of Hungary, we would like to clarify that the intervention of the team doctor happened within 15 seconds of the incident, followed immediately by the second stadium doctor, to conduct a first assessment of the injury and provide appropriate treatment, as per customary medical procedures.
“The qualified pitchside emergency team were waiting pitchside, according to their protocol, and arrived with the stretcher as soon as their intervention was requested by the medics to evacuate the player for his immediate transfer to hospital.
“The coordination between all the medical staff on site was professional and everything was done in accordance with the applicable medical procedures. There was no delay in the treatment of and assistance to the player."
4
Hungary went on to win the match in the tenth minute of added time after a goal from Kevin Csoboth.
It means they earned a crucial three points which may still be enough to secure their progression to the knockout stages as one of the four best third-place finishers.
But for Scotland and their Tartan Army, Euro 2024 is over.
They will be heading home as the wait for a knockout game at a major tournament goes on.
talkSPORT will bring you live commentary of EVERY game at Euro 2024. Tune in via the website or the app, and follow our live Euro 2024 blog for all the latest news, views and reaction to the big moments.
Topics