Rafa Benitez refrains from criticising Switzerland over Schar head injury

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Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez provided an update on the condition of Fabian Schar, but refused to criticise Switzerland for their handling of his head injury.

The defender was knocked unconscious during the international Euro 2020 qualifier with Georgia last week.

It has been reported (The Daily Mail) that as Schar lay on the floor, Jano Ananidze tried to stop the 27-year-old’s tongue from blocking his airway.

Schar admitted afterwards that his skull was ‘still buzzing’ from the incident, and brain injury charity Headway called for a UEFA investigation after he was allowed to continue playing.

One might have imagined his club manager Benitez would have been furious, but the Spaniard was surprisingly calm when discussing the player in his press conference.

He said, as quoted by The Shields Gazette: “We take these things seriously, so we try to do what we have to do. He had the test over there and another here. He’s OK, so I will not create something important out of that. We try to do the right things.

“We try to control these things if we can. I was in contact with him after, we joked today a bit. He passed the test with the doctor. “It’s important not to say too much. We did it, and that’s it.”

TBR’s view

Schar being allowed to continue playing was a disgrace.

The former Basel player should have been taken off immediately, rather than been subject to further risk.

He was failed by the Swiss medics, who should have better complied with genuine FIFA regulations.

Benitez’s response was dignified but he could have been excused for expressing his anger over the situation.

Schar has been an important player for the Magpies in his first season and last week’s lack of judgement could have resulted in an even worse situation. Thankfully, Schar came through unscathed and has been recovering well.