“I took quite a shock.
I was a little knocked out for 10 to 15 seconds.
“Benjamin Pavard was able to clean up without problem with the Blues this Wednesday in Munich but the night before, the concern was immense around his state of health.
At the hour of play of the shock of group F, while Germany was led 1-0 and pushing to equalize, Gosens had arrived launched in the French surface and his thigh had struck the face of the side of the Blues.
Collapsed to the ground under the violence of the shock, he suffered a second impact to the head by hitting the ground before getting up after a few minutes.
“After that, it was better,” he commented after the match on BeIn Sports.
Nevertheless, the question of the protection of the players is posed.
According to information from RMC, UEFA launched an investigation on Wednesday morning into the circumstances of this temporary exit. It is a question of whether or not the player was able to continue the match.
Read also France-Germany (1-0): the Blues not spoiled by arbitration
This fact of match worried in particular FIFPRO, the world union of football players.
“FIFPRO is in contact with UEFA to find out why the Concussion Charter has not been applied,” she said on Twitter.
FIFPRO refers to a series of recommendations on the treatment of concussions announced by UEFA on Saturday, after online exchanges with doctors from the 24 teams involved in the tournament.
Immediate discharge required in case of "suspicion" of concussion
“It's very good that we are talking a little more about concussions, welcomes Raphaël Varane, interviewed this Wednesday at a press conference. It is very closely watched in rugby, but it is also important this monitoring in football. It's necessary to be vigilant. I was close to the action, I arrived quickly with Benjamin. It took a few moments for him to be totally fine, but the doctors arrived quickly and saw that he was fully conscious, fit to replay. It took longer because he was bleeding from his nose but he could play. I saw him 100%, today he is doing very well. The doctors have been attentive and played their part to ensure that there is no problem as the health of the players remains a priority.
The decision whether or not to leave a player is up to each team, the Euro rules do not impose any systematic action to be taken in the event of a shock to the head. "We confirm that if a player on our team is suspected of having suffered a concussion, he will be immediately off the field, whether in training or in a match," provides this new charter. The whole difficulty therefore lies in the evaluation of the "suspicion" of concussion, carried out in the field immediately after the incident, whereas the symptoms of a shock to the brain may appear with delay. According to the staff of the France team, the doctor proceeded to the exact protocol corresponding to his "injury": he was groggy but did not lose consciousness, so he was fit to resume the match.
FIFPRO is in touch with @UEFA to find out why the Concussion Charter was not applied and subsequently @ BenPavard28 was not removed from the field of play during the # EURO2020 match between France and Germany.
pic.twitter.com/4AKLKurNzz
- FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) June 16, 2021
Football is far from being the most restrictive sport on these issues.
FIFA is currently experimenting with the possibility of making two additional substitutions per match in the event of a concussion.
This rule is tested in particular in the Premier League and in MLS, the American league.
The move came in response to cases of dementia in former players, including Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton.
