June 25 – Hungary’s Barnabas Varga has undergone successful surgery and will be released from hospital on Wednesday, according to the Hungarian Football Federation.
The striker was rushed to hospital after he suffered a fractured cheekbone during his side’s 1-0 win over Scotland at Euro 2024.
The match was held up for nearly seven minutes in the second half as he received lengthy treatment after a mid-air collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
“According to the institution’s doctors specialising in facial injuries, the intervention was uncomplicated, so the Ferencvaros attacker can leave the hospital on Wednesday,” said the HFF.
Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai could be seen in tears on the pitch and after the match criticised the response time of medical staff.
Szoboszlai helped bring a stretcher on to the pitch before sheets were held up around Varga as he received treatment, a requirement to surround players deemed seriously injured.
Cameras showed Szoboszlai seemingly in tears after the incident and appeared to be concerned at the speed at which the stretcher was carried onto the pitch.
“I don’t understand this kind of protocol, why the medical staff don’t rush in at this time?” said Szoboszlai after the game.
“This question remains for everyone, so I hope that everyone can save a few seconds and save a life. I hope we will never have to experience this again. Something needs to be done. I don’t really know what the [medical] protocol [is], I don’t know how it works but if our doctors say we need someone immediately to help, then I don’t think they should walk.”
“It was a confusing situation,” Hungary coach Marco Rossi told reporters. “What I heard from the players is that Barny at that moment looked like he was not conscious so everyone was really worried about his condition and also worried about the fact that the doctors arrived a bit late, we can say. But of course, they probably didn’t realize it was a dangerous situation.
UEFA, insists there was “no delay” in the time taken to treat Varga at Stuttgart Arena.
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“The intervention of the team doctor happened within 15 seconds of the incident, followed immediately by the second stadium doctor, to conduct a first assessment of the injury and provide appropriate treatment, as per customary medical procedures,” a statement said.
“The qualified pitch-side emergency team were waiting pitch-side, according to their protocol, and arrived with the stretcher as soon as their intervention was requested by the medics to evacuate the player for his immediate transfer to hospital.
“The coordination between all the medical staff on site was professional and everything was done in accordance with the applicable medical procedures. There was no delay in the treatment of and assistance to the player.”
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