THERE WERE CONCERNS earlier for Everton and Ireland defender Seamus Coleman, as he left the field some time after an incident with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, during his sides 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic landed awkwardly on Coleman after he was dispossessed, and afterward he caught the the Ireland captain with the heel of his boot on the ground, striking him directly in the face.
The 50th minute incident appeared to go unnoticed by officials, as referee Michael Oliver didn’t take any action.
Coleman did play on, but signaled to the bench that he wasn’t fit to carry on. He was then substituted 17 minutes after the incident, something which would understandably worry Ireland fans.
The extent of the injury is not yet known, but Coleman did say that he was feeling better after the match.
“I’m not one to come off. I don’t know the ins and outs of the injury yet. It’s feeling much better now, after the game. I couldn’t stand up straight and I couldn’t run really, so it was a cause of using your head,” he told Off The Ball after the game.
“There’s no point being brave and not being fit to play to your full potential, especially against a team like that, because you could be at fault for a goal. Your bravery would end up being stupid.”
Former Manchester United player Gary Neville felt that it was a deliberate move by Ibrahimovic.
“It’s naughty, very naughty,” he said on Sky Sports after the game. “He’s fortunate to get away with that.”
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