Sky Sports journalist blasts ‘irresponsible’ Leeds United medics over Robin Koch injury
Sky Sports journalist Jamie Weir has blasted the Leeds United medical staff after Robin Koch suffered a head injury in the 4-2 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
Koch, 25, was flattened by a strong Scott McTominay challenge in the 14th minute, leaving the Germany international with a cut head.
Leeds’ medical staff patched Koch up on the pitch and got him to change his kit but he continued playing after a few minutes.
However, less than 15 minutes later, Koch was down again and clearly struggling with the knock to his head before he was eventually substituted off and replaced by Junior Firpo.
Weir took to social media to slam Leeds’ physios for not taking Koch off as soon as they realised he’d injured his head.
“I’m sorry, but Leeds’ medical team have some questions to answer,” said Weir via his personal Twitter account on Sunday after Koch was eventually taken off.
“How on earth Robin Koch was allowed to play for another fifteen minutes when clearly concussed is just staggering.
“Highly irresponsible and negligent.”
No point in risking it
Football is a sport and to footballers, it’s a job.
If you cracked your head open at work and didn’t feel too great afterwards, would you carry on working? Would you stay outside in the pouring rain exerting physical effort?
No, you wouldn’t. But in the world of football, people seem to think it’s okay for players to continue playing despite receiving huge whacks to their heads.
McTominay’s challenge on Koch was a shocker and we have no idea how referee Paul Tierney didn’t book the Man United midfielder.
It was needlessly rough and was one of many fouls he committed, picking up just one yellow card.
It was dangerous for him to be on the pitch and a player being injured wasn’t even enough for him to get punished.
Why didn’t Tierney put his foot down, book McTominay and say to him that the challenge on Koch was too much? He’d have probably calmed down straight away and if not, would have been red-carded at some point.
Leeds’ medical staff should’ve been more attentive towards Koch’s head injury too and maybe just the fact he was bleeding led to them not paying as much attention to a possible concussion.
None of this was managed well at all.
In other Leeds United news, one player had a woeful 3/10 in our player ratings against Man United.