SPURS HAVE BEEN labeled as “irresponsible” after allowing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to play on in yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Everton, despite the Frenchman having lost consciousness.
The 26-year-old suffered a head injury when he crashed into Romelu Lukaku’s knee in the closing stages of the Premier League game at Goodison Park. However, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas decided to let Lloris continue.
A spokesman for the brain injury charity Headway this morning stated that Spurs had been in the wrong to allow their injured player to remain on the pitch after the incident.
“When a player – or any individual – suffers a blow to the head that is severe enough for them to lose consciousness, it is vital they urgently seek appropriate medical attention,” Headway spokesman Luke Griggs told BBC Sport.
A physio or doctor treating a player on the pitch simply cannot accurately gauge the severity of the damage caused to the player’s brain in such a setting as there may be delayed presentation of symptoms.
“By continuing to play, the player may have caused greater damage to his brain. He should have been removed from the game immediately and taken to hospital for thorough tests and observation.”
Alarmingly, Villas Boas admitted that Lloris had no recollection of the incident in the immediate post-game aftermath. The Spurs boss took ownership for the call to keep the France international on the pitch.
He doesn’t remember it so he lost consciousness. It was a big knock but he looked composed and ready to continue. Hugo seemed assertive and determined to continue and showed great character and personality. We decided to keep him on based on that.
“The call always belongs to me. Brad [Friedel] was ready to come in but the person Hugo is, there were enough signs for him to continue.”
With concussion having become a major topic in rugby and American football, as well as almost every other contact sport, is it time for the Premier League to wake up to its dangers?