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Szoboszlai rages at Euros medical workers after his teammate’s collision

  • Hungary’s Barnabas Varga was involved in a sickening collision against Scotland
  • Dominik Szoboszlai questioned why medical staff were not on the pitch sooner
  • LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. New episodes released every day during the Euros 

Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai has criticised the response from medical staff after Barnabas Varga suffered a head injury during their win over Scotland.

In a tense clash that both teams needed to win to keep their hopes of qualification to the knockout stage alive, Varga collided with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the 67th minute.

The game was paused for around seven minutes as the 29-year-old forward lay motionless on the ground.

Both teams motioned for medical staff to rush on, and Varga was initially treated on the pitch as players and stewards held up sheets.

Varga was subsequently taken off on a stretcher and rushed to hospital where he is reportedly in a stable condition after suffering a fractured cheekbone.

Dominik Szoboszlai slammed the response of medical staff after his teammate was involved in a horror collision during their win over Scotland

Dominik Szoboszlai slammed the response of medical staff after his teammate was involved in a horror collision during their win over Scotland 

Sheets were raised around Barnabas Varga as the Hungary forward received treatment

Sheets were raised around Barnabas Varga as the Hungary forward received treatment

The 29-year-old was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and was subsequently taken to hospital

The 29-year-old was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and was subsequently taken to hospital

Szoboszlai was one of several Hungary players in tears following the incident, and the Liverpool star has insisted the delay in medical staff administering treatment could have had severe consequences.

‘I was one of the first people there.’ Szoboszlai told Magenta TV. 

‘I was shocked myself, I tried to put him on his side, which is actually the best thing you can do in situations like this. He couldn’t get enough air’

‘I have no idea what the protocol is, whether people are not allowed to run onto the pitch if we need help, but..’

Asked whether he believed the response was not fast enough, the 23-year-old continued: ‘I don’t think so. 

‘You could see that it’s a huge problem. Everyone was running, I was running – these things add up to seconds. 

‘It’s not my decision, but we have to change something about it. We have to do it faster, much faster. Everyone knows that seconds add up.’

Hungary boss Marco Rossi revealed in his post-match press conference that Varga will require surgery and will play no further part in the tournament should they progress.

Hungary captain appeared to be in severe distress as his teammate was treated

Hungary captain appeared to be in severe distress as his teammate was treated

The 23-year-old questioned why medical staff had not rushed onto the pitch immediately after the incident

The 23-year-old questioned why medical staff had not rushed onto the pitch immediately after the incident

Liverpool star insisted after the game that the response to serious collisions has to be 'much faster'

Liverpool star insisted after the game that the response to serious collisions has to be ‘much faster’

‘The players were saying he looked unconscious so everyone was really worried about his condition and worried about the fact that the doctors arrived late, we can say, but they probably didn’t realise it was a dangerous situation,’ Rossi said.

‘Thankfully he is not under risk, he will be operated on here [his cheek].

‘He’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing. If we go through, he is no longer part of the team.’

In the aftermath of the injury the BBC said it was ‘shocked’ UEFA opted to broadcast replays of the incident.

Speaking after full-time, host Gabby Logan said: ‘Huge commiserations to Scotland and their Tartan Army in Stuttgart and beyond. It wasn’t to be once again for Scotland. 

‘And, just to echo Steve’s [Wilson] thoughts there, all of our thoughts are of course with Barnabas Varga after that sickening collision and we are updating you when we get information. At the moment, we have no more on his condition. 

‘We were as shocked as you when they replayed that incident. There are protocols around this kind of thing after Christian Eriksen three years ago. 

‘And we were very surprised that UEFA chose to show that replay, which is why we cut away immediately to a wide-angle as soon as we could’.

Hungary boss Marco Rossi revealed that Varga is currently stable in hospital and will undergo surgery on a broken cheekbone

Hungary boss Marco Rossi revealed that Varga is currently stable in hospital and will undergo surgery on a broken cheekbone

His teammates held up the forward's shirt after they secured a dramatic victory in Stuttgart

His teammates held up the forward’s shirt after they secured a dramatic victory in Stuttgart 

The game was eventually restarted in the 74th minute, with a total of ten minutes of stoppage time added on after the 90.

With a goalless draw likely to see both teams eliminated from the tournament, Kevin Csoboth finished off a counter attack deep into stoppage-time to fire Hungary to victory and give them a chance at progressing from Group A.