Head injuries are a problem in football – and not just since Schalke’s Mark Uth was knocked out last Sunday. Belgian international Jan Vertonghen has now warned of the long-term consequences of a clash.
In the first leg of the Champions League semi-final of the 2018/2019 season, Vertonghen and his teammate Toby Alderweireld rushed their heads against each other against Ajax Amsterdam. Vertonghen had bled badly and looked dazed; nevertheless, after minutes of treatment, he had returned to the field.
A mistake, as he says today. Many people did not know, but he suffered from headaches and dizziness for a long time after the collision, the 33-year-old told the Belgian broadcaster »Sporza«. “I shouldn’t have continued playing, it hindered me for a total of nine months.”
Collapsed when leaving the square
It was only after he returned to the field at the game in May 2019 that Vertonghen called for his substitution. As he left the pitch, he collapsed in the arms of his coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The impact of the head injury would also have had an impact on his performance at Tottenham, Vertonghen said. “I couldn’t get what I wanted out onto the field, I just didn’t know what to do,” he said, “Sporza.” He only had one year of contract left, so he kept playing, “but when I played, I played badly,” he said.
Only recovered during the corona break
He said he was only able to recover after the game break in the corona crisis. At this point, Vertonghen had already lost his regular place. His contract was not renewed, now he plays for Benfica Lisbon.
The handling of those responsible during the game was heavily criticized in 2019. The referee had apparently still communicated with the Spurs bank whether there was a concussion. In contrast to American football, for example, there is no “Concussion Protocol” in football that takes players out of the game in the event of head injuries.
The German Football League (DFL) introduced an annual test in 2019 to help detect concussions and protect against long-term damage. However, the test is only carried out once a year, before each season.
