Brain injury charity wants temporary substitutes after Jan Vertonghen clash

Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen down injured during their Champions League semifinal first leg tie against Ajax on April 30, 2019. [Reuters]

Soccer authorities should introduce temporary substitutions, a brain injury charity said after defender Jan Vertonghen tried to play on following a head clash during Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League semi-final.

Vertonghen collided with teammate Toby Alderweireld while trying to beat Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Andre Onana to the ball in what Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino described as a “big knock” during Tuesday’s semi-final first leg.

Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz spoke to the Spurs medical staff before allowing Vertonghen back onto the pitch, only for the 32-year-old Belgian to quickly go off again.

British charity Headway said in a statement on Wednesday that rolling substitutes in cases of a head injury would allow a team’s medical staff to conduct longer off-pitch assessments.

“Assessing a player for three minutes – or even five, as was the case with Jan Vertonghen – does not allow for medical staff to make a reliable diagnosis,” Headway’s Luke Griggs said.

“The pressure on club medical staff is enormous and unfair, particularly in such high-stakes games such as a Champions League semi-final.

UEFA and FIFA were not immediately available for comment, but Pochettino told reporters the Tottenham medical staff followed the necessary protocols before allowing Vertonghen back onto the pitch. Spurs lost the match 1-0.

In addition to temporary substitutions, Headway called for “independent doctors with expertise in concussion” to take the final call on whether a player is fit to continue.

Pochettino said he was not involved.

“It was the doctor’s decision. The rules and protocols are there. Our medical staff followed the protocol,” the Argentine manager said.

“He’s OK. We hope it is not a big issue.”