Hungary captain Szoboszlai wants change on UEFA protocols

Dominik Szoboszlai, the captain of the Hungarian national team, has called for changes to UEFA protocols following an alarming incident involving his teammate Barnabas Varga during a group stage match at UEFA Euro 2024. Varga collided with Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn, resulting in the Hungarian striker falling unconscious.

Hungary secured a dramatic 1-0 victory deep into added time, but the incident overshadowed the match. Szoboszlai emphasized the need for immediate medical intervention in such situations, arguing that “seconds can make a big difference.”

Dominik Szoboszlai SLAMMED the response of medical staff😡⛑️ pic.twitter.com/NdCIVNWfUP

— Mail Sport (@MailSport) June 24, 2024

“He is okay. He is in the hospital. He needs surgery on his face and nose. I think the procedure will be done tomorrow. He looked bad, it was bad, and I felt bad,” Szoboszlai said after the game. Varga received urgent medical attention on the field, with stewards and blankets shielding the scene from television viewers and fans in the stadium, before being quickly taken to the hospital.

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Dominik Szoboszlai ran with the stretcher to help it get to teammate Bernabas Varga faster 👏 pic.twitter.com/fmLqoIUV4C

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 23, 2024

Szoboszlai argued that medical teams should be allowed to enter the field without waiting for the referee’s signal if they deem it necessary. “I really don’t know what exactly the UEFA protocols are, but if our doctors see that we need immediate help, then I don’t think they should have to wait. I can’t make that decision, but I think we can change it. If someone is on the ground and the medical staff thinks it’s a very serious collision, they should just go onto the field,” Szoboszlai stated.

“Seconds can make a big difference,” concluded the captain of Hungary.