It’s crazy Luiz still played on after this..
HORROR CLASH SPARKS CALL FOR INSTANT CHANGE
RYAN MASON had life- saving surgery and needed 14 metal plates to fix a fractured skull after a clash of heads while playing for Hull against Chelsea. It brought back horrific memories when he saw Raul Jimenez and David Luiz collide, with Luiz being allowed to play after a brief check for concussion...
RYAN MASON has admitted his “shock” that David Luiz was not taken off the pitch at the Emirates on Sunday.
Second Impact Syndrome – being hit before the brain has healed from initial concussion – can lead to collapse and brain damage.
“I was quite upset to see something like that happen on a football pitch again, it’s very concerning,” said Mason.
“It’s a real shame my incident didn’t change the perception.
“What is it really going to take for people to start realising this is something really, really serious?
“I’ll be honest, I was shocked that David Luiz was allowed to play on.
“The noise, the impact, the speed of the challenge as well – it was a bad one. It didn’t help that there were no fans and you could actually hear the point of contact.”
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez was said to be “comfortable” and “resting” and was able to see his partner Daniela yesterday morning after surgery in a London hospital in the hours following the game.
Obviously, Mason wishes him a speedy and full recovery from his fracture.
Others, after all, have been more fortunate after similar injuries and have been able to continue with their careers.
But his thoughts, too, were with Luiz, who was sent home at halftime after playing for 40 minutes with heavy bandaging across a three- inch gash. “I’m not criticising
the Arsenal doctor because there is a protocol in place and I’m sure he’s followed that,” said Mason, speaking on TALKSPORT.
“But that protocol that is currently in place is not enough; it’s not enough just to have two or three minutes, it’s not enough.
“The game needs to change this rule.
“It’s pretty clear that five minutes on the side of the pitch, while there is pressure to get the game restarted, is not enough to see if someone is concussed or not.
“This current protocol we have in place isn’t okay and it’s dangerous.”
Even the name of the current protocol in the Premier League handbook sounds inadequate – the “Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool”.
But the more comprehensive
“SCAT5” protocol, endorsed by FIFA, says in the first paragraph that it “cannot be performed correctly in less than 10 minutes”.
It is why medical professionals are leading the calls for temporary substitutes, to give them time to do their job properly.
Arsenal’s doctor, Gary O’driscoll, visited Luiz at home yesterday to continue to monitor his condition.
Although it is likely to be another 24 hours before e doc doctors are able to confirm with certainty that a concussive event has not occurred.
Having taken off Sokratis with suspected concussion in Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge at Arsenal, he has shown he will always put the welfare of players first.
The question for the law- makers is, when is football going to do the same? Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson led the calls for concussion sion substitutes sub in the wake of Jime Jimenez’s injury. Ederson ( inset) needed eight stitches in a facial wound in S September 2017 when h he was involved in a cl clash with Sadio Mane, whi which resulted in the Liverpo Liverpool striker getting sent off.
He says players who suffer head injuries should be replaced, even if they feel they can carry on.
Ederson watched the game between Arsenal and Wolves on Sunday and saw the clash between Jimenez and Luiz. “Of course, I was very worried. I was watching the game,” he said.
“I have played with Raul at Benfica, it was an accidental clash, head to head, very difficult. All the concern and care is very important.
“The head is a part of the body that is very fragile and needs special attention.
“When there is a blow to the head there should be a substitution, whether or not the player can continue.
“You might be feeling okay at the time but after the game you feel the consequences.
“It wasn’t an intentional blow, they went to compete for the ball, but we know the risks of a head injury.
“I hope he returns quickly and is back as soon as possible.”