THE extent of Barnabas Varga’s horror facial injury after his horror collision with Angus Gunn has been revealed.
The Group A decider had to be stopped for six minutes in the second half after the Hungary striker clashed with the Scotland goalkeeper as they went for the ball during a free-kick while the game was still goalless at 0-0.
Gunn, 28, rushed out to punch the ball clear but the pair came into contact with one another, leaving both players needing treatment.
The Norwich City goalkeeper rushed back to his feet quickly but the Hungarians feared the worst as the 29-year-old forward stayed down motionless with team-mates swarming around him to put him in the recovery position.
The game restarted after a long delay but Varga’s game – and tournament – was over as he was rushed to hospital in Stuttgart.
According to his Andras, he the Ferencvaros star went under the knife for emergency facial surgery this morning after a visit from his club doctor Gergely Panics.
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And speaking to the media today, Panics gave an update on the striker’s condition and revealed he had suffered multiple fractures in his face from the incident.
He told Hungarian news outlet Magyar Nemzet: “Barni suffered a concussion during the collision and lost consciousness.
“By the time he reached the ambulance, he had already regained consciousness, after which he was taken to the clinic in Stuttgart, where, after the examination, a therapeutic plan was drawn up, according to which he would be operated on.
“Our striker suffered multiple facial skull fractures, several smaller and larger bones were broken in his face, and some were even dislocated.
“After the operation, he will be kept in for two days. If everything goes well, he will be released on Wednesday.”
During the harrowing scenes on the pitch, Varga’s Hungarian team-mates were visibly furious over the amount of time it took for medics to reach the unconscious player.
Several players rushed over to the staff to hurry them along and bring the stretcher to their pal as soon as possible.
Stewards gathered around Varga and held up blankets to create a screen to give him privacy.
Speaking after the match, Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai urged Uefa to make a change to ensure similar moments are avoided and players receive treatment as quickly as possible.
“I don’t really know the protocols or how it works, but if our doctors say we need someone immediately to help, then I don’t think they should walk.
“It’s not my decision, but I think we need to change something.
“Even if someone is on the ground, and you know that it was a big collision, then just go on (the pitch).
“Even if the referee is saying don’t go on, just go on. And if you can see it’s nothing serious, then you can just go down and it’s finished. But seconds can help a lot.”
Panics refused to be drawn on the reaction of the medical team.
He added: “Regarding the German protocol and first aid, I do not want to comment, as I do not know it in detail and I am not responsible for it.
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“However, I can say that I had the opportunity to visit Barna in the hospital, and I saw that he is in expert hands and is receiving a lot of attention.”
Uefa, however, defended those who treated Varga and insisted all the guidance was followed as they reached him within 15 seconds.
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