Jan Vertonghen has made a bombshell admission after claiming a head injury affected him for nine months.
Former Tottenham defender Vertonghen’s remarkable comments will only heighten the demands for concussion substitutes and stronger protocols to be introduced into football.
Vertonghen, 33, says his problems started after a horrific clash of heads with ex-team mate Toby Alderweireld during a Champions League semi final with Ajax last year.
The Belgium defender, who joined Benfica on a free transfer last summer, was physically sick on the pitch after trying to play on and Tottenham later insisted medical reports showed he did not suffer concussion.
Vertonghen, talking on a podcast about the incident, said: "This is now the first time I speak about it. I should not have continued playing, it affected me in total for nine months and that's why I couldn't bring on the field what I wanted to.
"I just didn't know what to do. It was game after game and training after training. Every time there was a new impact.
"Then the lockdown came and I was able to rest for two months, after that it was a lot better.”
Vertonghen says specifically that he did not tell anyone, does not blame Tottenham or Jose Mourinho who took over from Mauricio Pochettino the following season and did not play him because he was struggling for form.
"Lots of people don't know it but I suffered a lot from that hit: dizziness and headaches," Vertonghen said.
“Not a lot of people knew it. It was my personal choice. That’s not a reproach to anybody.”
When asked whether there was a fear they might not play him, Vertonghen added: “Maybe. And also the image: what does it mean for the rest (of my career). You know. I am fine now since four or five months.
"Everybody thought I was angry at Mourinho but at that moment I just couldn't go on anymore. I had only one year of contract left, so I had to play. But when I played, I played badly.
"The fact I got benched had nothing to do with him. I was in a period I could not bring what I should have. I even though he played me a lot compared to how I performed.”
Premier League clubs are set to vote on introducing concussion substitutes - which allow players to be brought on temporarily while injuries are assessed - on Thursday if they get the go-ahead from law makers IFAB who will discuss it this week.
The horror injury to Wolves striker Raul Jimenez at Arsenal earlier this month plus also David Luiz being allowed to carry on playing despite a head wound and the raft of former players suffering from dementia and Alzheimers has put the spotlight on concussion.
Tottenham are aware of Vertonghen’s comments but have stressed they followed strict concussion protocols.
