Giggs and James under fire from brain injury charity
Ryan Giggs and Daniel James have been heavily criticised by brain injury charity Headway over their handling of an apparent concussion incident during Sunday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Croatia.
James clashed heads with Croatia’s Domagoj Vida in the first half of the 1-1 draw in Cardiff and initially appeared to have lost consciousness. Giggs said that the player did not suffer a concussion in the incident and said he had stayed down because he was “streetwise” and “using his nous”.
James was treated at length on the pitch after the incident and Giggs said further tests were carried out at half-time to ensure the Manchester United player was fit to continue.
But Headway chief executive Peter Mccabe said: “Although it is argued that concussion protocols were followed, the rules state that if a concussion is suspected a player must be removed from the game.
“To all watching, it appeared that Daniel James lost consciousness. Regardless of his manager’s comments after the game, this in itself must surely have given enough reason to take a cautious approach.
“However, Ryan Giggs’ claim that the player was being ‘streetwise’ by staying down and appearing to have been knocked out is shocking.
“If that is the case and James was ‘acting’, it raises serious questions about the player’s understanding of the seriousness of concussion. Not only has he put his own medical team under intense and unfair scrutiny, but he’s also set a dangerous example for the millions watching at home.
“It is simply not acceptable for teams to use concussion protocols for tactical gain.”