Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai calls for a change in medical protocol after Barnabás Varga suffers serious injury at Euro

Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai has called for a change in medical protocols after striker Barnabás Varga suffered a serious injury during Sunday’s Euro 2024 match against Scotland.

Varga went to the ground after colliding with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the Scotland penalty area midway through the second half.

The 29-year-old’s teammates signaled for medical assistance to be brought to the pitch to help Varga. When help arrived, sheets were placed around him while he received treatment. Ten minutes of injury time were then added to the Group A match at the Stuttgart Arena.

Cameras showed Szoboszlai appearing concerned after the incident at the speed at which a stretcher was being carried onto the pitch to help Varga. The Hungarian captain then helped run with the stretcher to speed up the process.

Varga was eventually taken off the pitch to applause from fans of both teams.

Shortly after the match – in which Hungary’s Kevin Csoboth scored the winning goal in the 100th minute to give them a chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition – the Hungarian Football Federation confirmed that Varga was in a “stable” condition in a nearby hospital, having suffered concussion and a broken cheekbone that required surgery.

“It looked bad, it was bad, it felt bad,” Szoboszlai told reporters, reflecting on Varga’s injury. “I really don’t know what the (medical) protocol is, I don’t know how it works, but if our doctors say we need someone to help right away, I don’t think they should walk.

“It’s not my decision, but I think we have to change something. Even if someone is lying on the ground and you see that it was a big accident, just go (onto the pitch). Even if the referee tells you not to go, just go. And if you see that it’s not serious, you can just go down and that’s it. But seconds can help a lot.”

When CNN contacted UEFA about its review of medical procedures, European football’s governing body said in a statement: “In relation to the medical intervention following the head injury sustained by Barnabás Varga from Hungary, we would like to clarify that the intervention of the team doctor occurred within 15 seconds of the incident, immediately followed by the intervention of a second stadium doctor to conduct a first assessment of the injury and provide appropriate treatment in accordance with the usual medical procedures.

“A qualified emergency medical team was waiting by the pitch in accordance with their protocol and arrived with a stretcher immediately after the doctors requested intervention to evacuate the player and immediately transport him to hospital.

“The coordination between all medical personnel on site was professional and everything was done in accordance with applicable medical procedures. There were no delays in the treatment and assistance to the player.”

Csoboth celebrated the winning goal with a shirt with Varga’s name on the back, and the entire team posed in a similar shirt after the victory to show support for the striker.

“It was a confusing situation,” Hungary coach Marco Rossi told reporters after the match. “What I heard from the players was that Barny looked like he was unconscious at that moment, so everyone was really concerned about his condition and also the fact that the doctors arrived a bit too late, you could say.

“But of course they probably didn’t realize it was a dangerous situation. Now, fortunately, we can say that Barny is not at risk at all.

“He will probably undergo surgery in the coming hours because he has a fracture here (pointing to cheek/eye socket). But he is healthy, that is the most important thing. If we go through the competition, of course he will no longer be part of the team.”

To receive more CNN news and newsletters, sign up for CNN.com