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Football has been warned it is gambling with players’ safety and urged to introduce concussion substitutes after David Luiz played on following his sickening head clash with Raul Jimenez.
The Arsenal defender banged heads with Jimenez during Sunday’s match at Emirates Stadium, which Wolves won 2-1, and play was stopped for 10 minutes as both players received medical attention on the pitch.
Jimenez was given oxygen and carried off the pitch on a stretcher before being taken to hospital, where as of this morning Wolves said he was “comfortable” following an operation last night on a fractured skull. He will now remain under observation for a few days while he begins his recovery.
Luiz, on the other hand, had his head bandaged and returned to the field of play for a further 40 minutes before being substituted at half-time.
Arsenal insist all medical protocols were followed with Luiz and he was substituted at the break due to a cut on his head making it uncomfortable for him to head the ball.
The Brazilian playing on, however, has led to criticism from brain injury association charity Headway, who have warned football is gambling with players’ safety.
Former England captain Alan Shearer has also passionately called for the introduction of concussion substitutes.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2 last night, Shearer said: “Football needs to get real. It needs to wake up. It needs to get serious – not next year, not next month, not next week, now.
“We’re talking about life and death here, and players’ careers ending.
“It is just not acceptable. It has been going on for far, far too long. They are on about trialling the concussion substitutes, what’s to trial about it? Why isn’t it in now.
“It has been going on for years this. We have been having meeting, after meeting, after meeting. Why do they need to trial it next year? Just do it. It is not acceptable.
