A brain-injury charity has demanded that UEFA launches an investigation into why Newcastle United's Fabian Schar was allowed to return to the field of play for Switzerland after being knocked unconscious.
The centre-back was knocked out while playing for Switzerland on Saturday after suffering a head-on-head collision with Georgia's Jemal Tabidze.
Schar was out cold for four minutes and, during that time, Georgia's Jano Ananidze inserted his fingers into the defender's mouth to ensure he did not swallow his own tongue.
How Fabian Schar's sickening head injury shows football's lawmakers which protocols need reforming
How Fabian Schar's sickening head injury shows football's lawmakers which protocols need reforming from their respective medical teams before being permitted to continue.
That is despite FIFA regulations outlining that players who have been knocked unconscious should be removed from play immediately.
After the game, Schar admitted that he could not recall the incident - and that his skull was still "humming" as a result of the collision.
The situation horrified brain-injury charity Headway, which has called upon UEFA to launch an investigation into why "their protocols were not followed".
Headway's chief executive even suggests that the failure to enforce UEFA protocols amounted to an "incredibly dangerous dereliction of duty".
Chief executive of Headway, Peter McCabe, said: “What is it going to take to make football take concussion seriously?
“How many more players will have their careers and, more importantly, their lives and long-term health put at risk by the sport’s inability to follow its own protocols?
“Put simply, the decision to allow Fabian Schar to return to the field of play after suffering a clear concussion was not only incredibly dangerous, but also a clear dereliction of duty.
“The player’s comments after the match are also deeply disturbing, and again show the lack of awareness and understanding among players.
“UEFA must immediately launch an investigation into the incident and explain why their protocols were not followed.”
It is understood that Newcastle's medical staff have contacted the Swiss national side for an update on Schar's condition.
The 27-year-old would be prevented from taking part in competitive action for a minimum of six days if he is deemed to have been concussed, though Schar is already suspended for the Magpies' trip to the Emirates to take on Arsenal next Monday night.
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