LORIS KARIUS continues to be remembered for one nightmare half of football in 2018.
But it would not have happened today thanks to new regulations to protect players.
The then-Liverpool goalkeeper dropped two shocking clangers in the Champions League final in Kyiv.
The first, at 0-0, saw the German try to roll the ball to a defender but Karim Benzema stuck a boot out to divert it into the unguarded net and give Real Madrid the lead.
And then after being beaten by a stunning Gareth Bale overhead kick, Karius’ disaster got even worse when he let the Welshman’s speculative long-range effort slip through his fingers for 3-1.
It proved to be Karius’ final game for Liverpool as he was shipped out on loan to Besiktas and Union Berlin.
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He joined Newcastle last summer and could make a shock debut in the Carabao Cup final with Nick Pope suspended and Martin Dubravka cup-tied.
And former Manchester City academy product Karius, 29, will be desperate to get one over Manchester United – as well as avenge his previous final woes.
However, his fortunes would likely have been very different in the current game.
Karius was clattered by Sergio Ramos’ elbow in the 48th minute – taking a heavy blow to the side of the head.
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He went down hurt, complaining to the referee, but no action was taken and he was not assessed by the Liverpool team doctor.
Just 132 seconds later, Karius rolled the ball into Benzema before his second error on 83 minutes.
Dr Ross Zafonte concluded Karius had suffered a concussion from the Ramos incident, likely to have taken effect immediately and “possibly” impacted performance.
At the time, in 2018, there were no Uefa concussion protocols – and still many are demanding the introduction of concussion substitutes for European competitions or a rugby-style off-field head injury assessment.
In 2021, though, the organisation did bring in a concussion charter to enable players to be checked over on the pitch for three minutes by the club doctor to determine if they can continue.
Therefore, in Karius’ case, the Reds medics could have done the relevant tests on their goalkeeper and potentially decided to sub him off – with Simon Mignolet on the bench ready to come on – and spare him the career-defining calamity.
UEFA head injury procedure
IN THE event of a suspected concussion, the referee will stop the game to allow the injured player to be assessed by the team doctor.
Players should remain calm during the situation and not interfere with the assessment.
The assessment should in principle not take more than three minutes, unless a serious incident requires the player to be treated on the field of play or immobilised on the field for immediate transfer to hospital.
If the assessment cannot be made after the three minutes and/or a suspicion for a concussion arises, the player should not be allowed to continue playing.
A player suffering a head injury that requires assessment for a potential concussion will only be allowed to continue playing after the assessment, on specific confirmation by the team doctor to the referee of the player’s fitness to do so.
The decision remains entirely with the team doctor. Coaches, referees and players are not allowed to interfere in the assessment and decision of the doctor.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
