Football’s ‘stubborn refusal to put players’ health above all else’ is blasted by brain injury charity Headway – after Harry Maguire played on against Fulham despite suffering a blow to the head and appearing dizzy

• Harry Maguire was struck on the head by the shoulder of Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz
• Leading brain charity Headway were left unimpressed seeing Maguire play on 
• Big debates on Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal on It’s All Kicking Off podcast 

A brain injury charity has slammed football’s ‘stubborn refusal’ to prioritise players’ health after Harry Maguire completed the full match against Fulham despite suffering a blow to his head in the first minute.

The Manchester United defender was struck by the shoulder of home striker Rodrigo Muniz in the opening seconds of his side’s 1-0 win at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Maguire then received the ball and put it out of play before collapsing to his knees to receive treatment from United’s medical staff.

The 30-year-old was deemed fit to carry on after passing concussion checks.

But referee John Brooks stopped the game again after 60 minutes for Maguire to get looked when he appeared to be dizzy following a headed clearance – although Erik ten Hag later claimed his player was treated for a hand injury.

Harry Maguire appeared dizzy after he suffered a blow to the head early on against Fulham

He was cleared by medics and completed the remainder of the game as Man United won 1-0

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After the match, Maguire said: ‘Obviously I got a knock really early on in the game.

‘The doc did all the tests and I knew where I was and I was answering all the questions and I completed them, thankfully.

‘If the doc says I’m OK to carry on then I’m always going to carry on.’

However, Headway, the leading brain injury association, said the sight of Maguire playing on was ‘concerning for a number of reasons’ and they have renewed their calls for temporary concussion substitutes to be introduced.

‘We are not privy to the discussions with his medical team, nor should their professionalism be questioned,’ said Headway’s chief executive Luke Griggs about the Maguire episode.

‘But this is an issue with the very culture of football and its stubborn refusal to put players’ health above all else – including the result of a game.

‘Every time the ‘if in doubt, sit it out’ principle is seen to be ignored in elite level football, our chances of educating younger players and better protecting future generations from short and long-term brain injury is diminished.

‘Temporary concussion substitutions would immediately help return some credibility to the process, but an evolution of attitude is urgently needed.’

Brain injury charity Headway was unimpressed to see the defender play on at Craven Cottage

They again called for the introduction of temporary concussion substitutions across football

Under current laws, only permanent substitutions can be made for players suffering a suspected concussion during matches.

A trial of temporary concussion subs was rejected by football’s law-makers, IFAB, in March, with the Premier League saying they were ‘disappointed’ and that they could not ‘understand the basis for which it has not been approved’.

Griggs added: ‘We have come such a long way since Hugo Lloris was labelled a ‘hero’ for over-ruling club medics to return to the pitch after a clear concussion while playing for Spurs against Everton in 2013.

‘But this progress is eroded with every high-profile incident in which the safety first principle is set aside and players being allowed to continue despite showing signs that a concussion could have occurred.’

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