The decision to allow Fabian Schar to continue playing has come in for considerable criticism.
Switzerland’s Schar appeared to be unconscious for several seconds after a sickening clash of heads in the box during Saturday’s Euro 2020 qualifier with Georgia.
Schar collided with Georgia’s Jemal Tabidze and immediately hit the deck and while play continued on the far side of the pitch, one opposition player rushed into action.
Georgia midfielder Jano Ananidze saw the danger Schar was in and sprinted to prevent his opponent from swallowing his tongue before Switzerland’s medical staff had time to get to him.
.@NUFC's Fabian Schär is involved in a nasty clash of heads early on for Switzerland! 🤕💥
The defender returned to the field shortly after, looking slightly dazed… pic.twitter.com/jDNdJtXpd9
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 23, 2019
Schar eventually came to but in a move that has proved unpopular among many in the football community, the Newcastle centre-half was allowed to return to the pitch to see out the game, which still had 70 minutes left in it.
“It looks awful, I can’t remember anything,” Schar told Swiss newspaper Blick.
“I was out for a few seconds. My skull is still humming. And I’ve got a neck-ache and a bruise on my forehead.
“But it was worth it.”
Switzerland went on to win their opening European qualifier 2-0, with goals from Steven Zuber and Denis Zakaria sending the Swiss to top of Group D, the group they share with the Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Gibraltar.
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