2 min readLondonNov 5, 2013 02:53 AM IST
First published on: Nov 5, 2013 at 02:53 AM IST
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was given the all-clear to resume playing by Tottenham Hotspurs medical staff despite briefly losing consciousness against Everton on Sunday,the Premier League club said. Lloriss head collided with the knee of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku in the 78th minute of their goalless draw at Goodison Park and Spurs have been widely criticised for their decision to allow him to continue.
FIFAs chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak and a spokesman for the brain injury charity Headway have both said he should have been replaced and not allowed to return to action after the incident. Spurs posted a flurry of tweets after being stung by the criticism saying: 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.
However,Dvorak said that FIFAs guidelines state that if there is any doubt about concussion then the player should have been taken off. Its a 99 per cent probability that losing consciousness in such an event will result in concussion. Dvorak added whatever Lloris thought he could do should not have been taken into account.
cavalier attitude
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said he made the decision for Lloris to continue after taking advice from the medical staff but a spokesman for the brain injury charity Headway said the club showed an irresponsible and cavalier attitude to Lloriss health by allowing him to play on. When a player 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 said.
A physio or doctor treating a player on the pitch simply cannot accurately gauge the severity of the damage caused to the players 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.
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