Following a nasty clash with Alexis Sanchez in the recent game against Arsenal, Thibaut Courtois, the Belgium international stopper, went on to play for a further 13 minutes, following treatment from the Chelsea medical team on the pitch.
Despite new rules being brought in for this season stating that only a doctor can make the final decision regarding a players fitness to continue, the Blues keeper was allowed to carry on. Chelsea have since been criticised for there actions over the incident.
Feeling more and more unwell, Courtois succumbed, and was replaced by Petr Cech between the sticks. The World Cup star has since come out and defended his club’s actions:
‘The doctor of Chelsea did well, I think,’ Courtois told Sky Sports
‘She asked me the questions she needed to ask and I could repeat immediately so I was feeling well and didn’t have to come off.
‘I didn’t feel I was knocked out but I was hit. I didn’t have a headache or anything, but after a few minutes I felt worse and worse.
‘Then I started to feel a little dizzy and I couldn’t see the ball anymore, and there was a little blood coming from my ear. Because I saw trouble, I went off.
‘I know you have to be careful, but I was not really knocked out so I could have carried on if I was not seeing blurry.
‘I had some neck pains, dizziness and headaches for a few days afterwards. I had neurological tests to see if my brain was responding correctly and, after it was okay, I travelled to Belgium.’
Courtois was deemed fit enough to play for his national side on Friday in their 6-0 drubbing of Andorra, and it seems the incident is now in the past for player and club, however the incident does highlight the inconsistencies with the new ruling.
It is widely considered that all keepers are barking mad, so it’s unlikely that a knock on the head will stop them wanting to play on!
Written by Michael Horne
Follw me on Twitter @MichaelHorne777
