Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai has called for a major rule change which would allow medics to ‘immediately’ run onto the field in the wake of Barnabas Varga’s horrendous injury during Hungary’s 1-0 victory over Scotland.
There were worrying scenes in Sunday’s cagey Group A contest at Euro 2024 as Hungary forward Varga had to be stretchered off the pitch after a mid-air collision with Angus Gunn in the 68th minute.
After Kevin Csoboth found a dramatic 100th-minute winner to eliminate Scotland from the tournament, it was confirmed that Varga was ‘conscious and in a stable condition’ but had suffered a fractured cheek bone and required surgery.
Both sets of players appeared visibly distressed at the time, with Hungary captain Szoboszlai in tears as Varga’s team-mates held blankets aloft to shield the attacker from the view of TV cameras at Stuttgart’s MHPArena.
Speaking after the match, Hungary manager Marco Rossi explained: ‘In that moment I didn’t realise immediately, then when we saw the players calling the doctors and everything I started to be worried and everyone was really worried.
‘I thought when Barni left the pitch he was already awake, he was okay.
‘So this is very good, the guy is healthy. Of course, he may not be available for the rest of the tournament if we continue, depending on the others at this point. But the most important thing is that he’s healthy.’
In his post-match presser, Rossi added: ‘Fortunately now we can say Barni is not under any kind of risk. Probably he will have an operation because he suffered a fracture.’
Speaking to Stadium Astro in the mixed zone, Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai eased fears over the severity of Varga’s condition and suggested his fellow countryman was doing ‘okay’ in hospital.
The Hungarian skipper went on to voice the frustration he felt that medical staff could not sprint onto the field without referee Facundo Tello’s permission.
‘He’s okay, he’s in hospital. He needs some surgery on his face and nose but, yeah, he’s going to have the surgery tomorrow [today],’ Szoboszlai said.
‘It looked bad, it was bad, he felt bad.
‘I don’t really know what the protocol is. I don’t know how it works but if our doctor says we need [to go] immediately to someone to help then I don’t think they should walk.
‘It’s not my decision but I think we need to change something that even if somebody is on the ground and you see that it was a big crash then just go in, even if the referee is saying don’t come in. Just go in.
‘And if you see that it’s nothing serious, then you can just go down and it’s finished. But seconds can help a lot.’
The result ensured Hungary finished third in Group A, meaning they now have a nervous wait to learn whether their three points will be enough to secure progression as one of the four best third-placed nations.
In Sunday evening’s other game, Germany sealed top spot in the group despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland, who go through as runners-up.
