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Brain injury charity Headway has demanded a UEFA investigation after Newcastle defender Fabian Schar played on for Switzerland against Georgia on Saturday despite being knocked unconscious in the first half.
Schar was involved in a clash of heads with Georgia’s Jemal Tabidze midway through the first half of the Euro 2020 qualifier in Tbilisi, which the visitors won 2-0.
Schar was quoted by Swiss newspaper Blick as saying he was “knocked out for a few seconds”. It was reported that as he lay on the ground, Georgia’s Jano Ananidze tried to stop the 27-year-old’s tongue from blocking his airway.
Schar, who had around five minutes of treatment from medical staff before completing the remainder of the game, went on to say on the national team’s official website: “I really wanted to play and, as always, give everything to the team and Switzerland.”
The Swiss FA confirmed on Monday he will not play in Tuesday’s Group D game with Denmark in Basle.
In a statement on Monday, however, Headway expressed its “anger and disbelief” over the incident.
The statement added: “The charity has demanded UEFA launches an investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Swiss player Fabian Schar being cleared to continue playing in a match against Georgia – just minutes after being knocked unconscious and needing emergency help from a member of the opposition.”
Headway chief executive Peter McCabe said: “What is it going to take to make football take concussion seriously?
“How many more players will have their careers and, more importantly, their lives and long-term health put at risk by the sport’s inability to follow its own protocols?
Brain injury charity demands investigation over Fabian Schar concussion @UEFA @alanshearer @chris_sutton73 https://t.co/HTCIGiutbJ — Headway (@HeadwayUK) March 25, 2019
“Put simply, the decision to allow Fabian Schar to return to the field of play after suffering a clear concussion was not only incredibly dangerous but also a clear dereliction of duty.
“The player’s comments after the match are also deeply disturbing and again show the lack of awareness and understanding among players.
“UEFA must immediately launch an investigation into the incident and explain why their protocols were not followed.”
Press Association Sport has contacted UEFA for comment while it is understood the medical departments of Newcastle and Switzerland made a joint decision to withdraw Schar from the Denmark game.
🤕🤕 There are two head injuries in the #GFF penalty area. The Swiss one looks serious, players urgently calling for medical attention. It came after both challenged for a high LW corner. (24) #GFF #GEOSUI #EURO2020Qualifiers — Georgia (@GeorgianFF) March 23, 2019
Blick quoted Schar as saying on Saturday after the match: “I cannot remember anything. I was knocked out for a few seconds. My skull is still buzzing. I also have neck pain. And a bump on the forehead. But it was worth it.”
On Sunday, the Swiss Football Association said via a statement on its official website: “International Fabian Schar is in good shape on the day after the game of the A national team in Georgia and the clash in a header duel with Jemal Tabidze.”
Swiss team doctor Dr Damian Meli said: “The player showed no worrying symptoms in the morning after the four-hour flight from Tbilisi to Basel late Saturday night.”
Das Schweizer A-Nationalteam muss morgen in Basel im #EuropeanQualifiers gegen Dänemark (20.45) auf Fabian Schär verzichten. Der Innenverteidiger wird nach seinem heftigen Zusammenstoss in Georgien aus medizinischen Überlegungen geschont. #SUIDEN #guteBesserung — nationalteams_SFVASF (@SFV_ASF) March 25, 2019
The statement added: “When the medical team of the Swiss A national team arrived immediately after the clash, Meli said he (Schar) was “awake and oriented.”
“He was examined according to the ‘Sport Concussion Assessment Tool’; no neuropsychological deficits could be detected. Therefore, after about five minutes of treatment, the medical team decided to let Schar continue playing. The centre-back could then continue the game without significant problems and play through to the end.
“Since later, more detailed tests after the game concluded no abnormal results, Fabian Schar was able to return to travel with the team back to Switzerland.”
Tabidze continued playing with a bandage around his head before coming off just after the hour mark.
Georgia coach Vladimir Weiss praised the actions of midfielder Ananidze for coming to the aid of Schar.
He said in a press conference on Monday: “It was an unlucky moment and Jano tried to help him. He had to help him and it was really nice.
“It was an unlucky moment, but afterwards, everything was good and Schar could play on.”
Headway described what happened on Saturday as “the latest in a series of high-profile failures to safeguard footballers from concussion”, going on to make reference to incidents earlier this month involving Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and Arsenal counterpart David Ospina, who is on loan at Napoli.
Schar is suspended for Newcastle’s next game at Arsenal on April 1.
