SPURS HAVE BEEN on the receiving end of criticism from FIFA, the Professional Footballers Association and a brain injury charity for allowing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to play on after he was knocked out.
The French international was knocked unconscious after taking a concussive, accidental blow to the head by Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. He received treatment on and off-field and Spurs prepared substitute Brad Friedel to take his place.
Lloris recovered sufficiently to argue for his reinstatement and made a fine, sprawling save in the closing stages. There has been a negative reaction, however, to the club allowing their player to finish out the game.
FIFA’s chief medical officer Professor Jiri Dvorak told Sky Sports News: “The player should have been substituted. The fact the other player needed ice on his knee means it’s obvious the blow was extensive. It’s a 99% probability that losing consciousness in such an event will result in concussion.”
PFA deputy chief executive John Bramhall also waded into the debate. He declared, “When treating a player on pitch, it can be very difficult to determine the severity of a head injury. It is important to take the pressure off the players, club medical staff, and the manager – removing the need for them to make a very difficult decision.
“If anyone suffers a severe trauma to the head and loses consciousness, then they should be required to leave the field of play automatically.”
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Spurs, today, confirmed that Lloris had passed medical checks after the club’s 0 — 0 draw. A club statement read, ” The club can confirm that Hugo Lloris underwent a precautionary CT scan and was given the all-clear and travelled back to London last night.”
