Playing for Wales, Manchester United's Daniel James appeared he got knocked out in a collision with Croatian defender Domagoj Vida. But just minutes after the heavy clash, the winger for the Red Devils was back on the pitch as if nothing had happened and finished the game.
James insisted he was fine, defying the images that saw him lying flat on his back on the grass. Medical personnel to give the English attacker aid, but he was later seen standing using his own power. James played the rest of the game, which ended in a draw on the equalizer scored by teammate Gareth Bale.
"I'm fine. He caught me in the head. I didn't get knocked out," Manchester Evening News reported the player as saying.
James said he had anticipated a tight game going against Croatia, adding, "We knew it was going to be tough. It was a quick turnaround. We started well, although we conceded. To get the goal back showed character. There were a few tackles flying in but you expect that in these games."
What really transpired, according to Wales manager Ryan Giggs, had a mix of acting on James' part. Giggs insisted the winger was in full control the entire and passed all the ensuing tests after the game.
"DJ went down and stayed down with a bit of acting really, but the medical staff went over and he was compos mentis. Then at half-time, we did all the tests and he passed it," the Wales boss was reported by the Evening Standard as saying.
However, James, given the clearance to play again just minutes after clashing heads with Vida, earned criticisms on social media. Among those who questioned the decision was Ryan Mason, formerly a midfielder for the Hull.
"Daniel James was just knocked out unconscious! Yet 3 minutes later he has been allowed back onto the pitch," Mason said.
The midfielder was caught in a similar incident in 2017. He suffered a broken skull that forced his retirement.
In recent years, head injuries have become a grave concern in football that resulted to UEFA issuing a strict guideline, which states that referees must halt the game for three minutes if a player is suspected of having concussion, Goal.com said.
"A player suffering a head injury that requires assessment for 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 guideline was reported as saying.
