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Football

25th Mar 2019

Opponent rushes to save Fabian Schar’s life after defender is knocked unconscious

Schar admits he cannot remember anything after the sickening clash of heads

Darragh Murphy

The decision to allow Fabian Schar to continue playing has come in for considerable criticism

Switzerland’s Schar appeared to be unconscious for several seconds after a sickening clash of heads in the box during Saturday’s Euro 2020 qualifier with Georgia.

Schar collided with Georgia’s Jemal Tabidze and immediately hit the deck and while play continued on the far side of the pitch, one opposition player rushed into action.

Georgia midfielder Jano Ananidze saw the danger Schar was in and sprinted to prevent his opponent from swallowing his tongue before Switzerland’s medical staff had time to get to him.

Schar eventually came to but in a move that has proved unpopular among many in the football community, the Newcastle centre-half was allowed to return to the pitch to see out the game, which still had 70 minutes left in it.

“It looks awful, I can’t remember anything,” Schar told Swiss newspaper Blick.

“I was out for a few seconds. My skull is still humming. And I’ve got a neck-ache and a bruise on my forehead.

“But it was worth it.”

Switzerland went on to win their opening European qualifier 2-0, with goals from Steven Zuber and Denis Zakaria sending the Swiss to top of Group D, the group they share with the Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Gibraltar.