Hungary’s striker Varga is lying on the ground with serious injuries at the European Championships. Players and fans react with shock because, in the opinion of the professionals, the paramedics acted too slowly. But UEFA is defending itself against the criticism.
Barnabás Varga lies almost motionless in the penalty area, breathing heavily, his fingers twitching. Hungary’s captain Dominik Szoboszlai immediately recognizes the seriousness of the situation and frantically tries to call the doctors. These are a few moments that feel like an eternity in the Stuttgart Arena and bring back terrible memories.
At the European Football Championship three years ago, Danish midfield star Christian Eriksen fought for his life after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field – millions of fans watched on TV, several thousand in the stadium. Even on Sunday evening, as doctors were still caring for the Hungarian on the field, many people were thinking about the Eriksen incident.
Unlike the Dane, who is now back on the field, Varga went down after an unfortunate collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn. Szoboszlai was the first to reach his teammate, who had suffered serious facial injuries, and was embarrassed by the paramedics’ intervention after the final whistle. “I don’t know how the procedures work. But if our doctor says he needs help, then it has to happen quickly. Seconds can make a big difference in a situation like this,” said the Liverpool professional about the dramatic situation. UEFA responded that there were no delays in the rescue process.
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According to the Hungarian delegation on Monday, Varga suffered several facial fractures and a concussion. Surgery is necessary. If the operation goes well, the 29-year-old could leave the hospital on Wednesday, it was said.
The footballer was in a stable condition that night. The shock of what had happened was still deep. The 1-0 goal, scored very late, faded into the background. The Hungarians dedicated the last-minute victory, which could have been enough to advance to the round of 16 in the tournament, to their seriously injured teammate.
“Many thought he was unconscious”
Several minutes after the incident, Varga was taken from the stadium to a hospital in Stuttgart wearing a neck brace and with spectators watching and applauding him. “Many people thought he was unconscious. He was no longer himself,” explained coach Marco Rossi. “That’s why everyone was worried.”
This was especially true for Szoboszlai, who said it took too long for the helpers to get to Varga. He called for adjustments to the protocol. “It has to go much faster,” said the 23-year-old about the hesitant intervention of the rescue workers, who did not rush onto the pitch straight away. “It’s not my decision, but we have to change something.” Willi Orbán of RB Leipzig also said: “I think that communication and implementation could go faster.”
UEFA, meanwhile, did not find any wrongdoing. “We would like to clarify that the team doctor intervened within 15 seconds of the incident. Immediately afterwards, a second doctor made an initial assessment in order to provide appropriate treatment in accordance with standard medical procedures,” said the UEFA statement. “The emergency team waited at the side of the pitch as required and arrived with the stretcher after being requested by the paramedics to remove the player.”
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“It was terrible, a cruel moment,” said Roland Sallai of SC Freiburg, who set up the latest winning goal in regular time at a European Championship by Kevin Csoboth (90th +10). As third in the group, the Hungarians still have a chance of making it to the round of 16. “We fought for him, wanted to win for him,” said Sallai about Varga.
After the final whistle, he and his teammates posed for photographers wearing Vargas’ number 19 jersey. Sallai, Szoboszlai and co. were probably thinking of their teammate in the hospital.
Source: Stern
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