Update 10-13-14 : according to the Daily Express, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has defended his club’s handling of his head injury during the Premier League game against Arsenal eight days ago.
Here is the original statement from Chelsea
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm Thibaut Courtois went to hospital during our Premier League game against Arsenal yesterday (Sunday) for precautionary tests on a head injury. Those tests came back all clear.”
“Thibaut was treated for a minor cut to his ear and was released from hospital last night. He is expected to report for international duty (with Belgium) later this week.”
In the 2-nil defeat of rival Arsenal in the London derby yesterday, Courtois collided with Arsenal star forward Alexis Sanchez, and required treatment. But he stayed in the game for a little while before leaving to get further treatment and then heading to the hospital for precautionary scans. Chelsea did not face a shot on target all game. All of Arsenal’s shots were wayward of goal, the first time that’s happened in a game since 2003.
However, controversy still surrounds how the head injury of Thibaut Courtois was handled.
Brain injury charity Headway has questioned the Premier League’s protocol that allowed Courtois to play on.
The leader of Headway released a statement on their website:
“The new rules introduced this season were designed to ensure no risks to players’ health were taken.
“They clearly state that ‘If there is any suspicion of the player having sustained a concussion, they must be removed from the field of play, and not allowed to return.’
“This incident calls into question whether these rules are working effectively. It is hard to understand how a concussion was not suspected following the sickening clash.”
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