Lloris `fit to continue` say Spurs

Last Updated: Monday, November 04, 2013, 18:49  

London: Tottenham Hotspur insisted Monday Hugo Lloris was fit to play on following a head knock at Everton after the club came under fire for not substituting the France captain.

Spurs were criticised by FIFA`s medical chief and player welfare organisations for letting Lloris remain on the field when `concussed` following a collision with Everton`s Romelu Lukaku during the closing stages of Sunday`s goalless Premier League draw at Goodison Park.

But a Spurs statement issued Monday said: "The club can confirm that Hugo Lloris underwent a precautionary CT scan and was given the all-clear and travelled back to London last (Sunday) night.

"The France goalkeeper suffered a knock to the head following a collision with Everton forward Romelu Lukaku in the closing stages of yesterday`s (Sunday`s) Premier League encounter at Goodison Park and was cleared to resume playing after examination by the club`s medical team."

Tottenham`s head of medical services, Wayne Diesel, added: "Once the relevant tests and assessments were carried out we were totally satisfied that he was fit to continue playing."

Earlier, Professor Jiri Dvorak, global football governing body FIFA`s chief medical officer, told Britain`s Press Association: "The player (Lloris) should have been substituted.

"The fact the other player (Lukaku) needed ice on his knee means it`s obvious the blow was extensive.


"It`s a 99 percent probability that losing consciousness in such an event will result in concussion."

Aftre the match, Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas said Lloris wanted to play on but added: "He doesn`t remember it so he lost consciousness. It was a big knock but he looked composed and ready to continue."

However, Luke Griggs -- a spokesman for brain injury charity Headway -- said: "We are hugely concerned that a professional football club should take such an irresponsible and cavalier attitude to a player`s health."

Griggs said his organisation`s guidelines stated that concussion victims should not play contact sport for at least three weeks after being injured.

Although not a major issue in football, concussion has become a hot topic in rugby union.

So concerned was Dr Barry O`Driscoll, uncle of Ireland rugby union great Brian, by what he saw as a failure to take the problem seriously he resigned from his post as a medical advisor to the International Rugby Board.

The debate about the issue has prompted England`s governing Rugby Football Union to hold a conference about concussion with players` organisations at Twickenham this week. AFP ---------------- ZEENEWS.com