The Hungary squad, led by manager Marco Rossi and including player Endre Botka, have made a heartfelt visit to injured teammate Barnabas Varga in hospital.
Varga suffered a serious collision with Scotland's keeper Angus Gunn during the climactic moments of their Euro 2024 group match, resulting in a fractured cheekbone and immediate hospitalisation.
Now on the mend, Varga was all smiles as he gave a thumbs-up from his hospital bed, surrounded by Rossi, Botka, coaching staff, and the medical team who have been caring for him.
The Hungary FA released a touching statement: "Led by Marco Rossi, some members of the professional staff and Endre Botka, representing the players, visited Barnabas Varga in Klinikum Stuttgart. The visitors interpreted the wishes of the whole team for the player."
Following surgery to repair his facial fractures, Varga's condition has improved significantly. His teammates had quickly put him in the recovery position post-incident, with captain Dominik Szoboszlai assisting medics to stretcher him off the pitch amidst a protective circle formed by the Hungarian players.
After being applauded off the field and rushed to a Stuttgart hospital, it was confirmed on Monday by the Hungary FA that Varga had not only broken bones in his face but also sustained a concussion.
"Several bones in Barnabas Varga's face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion," they said in a statement. "The Ferencvaros striker is most likely to undergo surgery. He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team is rooting for him!"
Hungary clinched a nail-biting victory thanks to Kevin Csoboth's last-gasp goal deep into stoppage time, potentially propelling them into the knockout stages of the competition. However, the incident has sparked controversy, with the Hungarian FA expressing dissatisfaction over the medical staff's reaction time.
UEFA, on the other hand, has defended the actions taken. Their statement asserted: "With regards to the medical intervention following the head injury suffered by Barnabas Varga of Hungary, we would like to clarify that the intervention of the team doctor happened within 15 seconds of the incident, followed immediately by the second stadium doctor, to conduct a first assessment of the injury and provide appropriate treatment, as per customary medical procedures.
"The qualified pitchside emergency team were waiting pitchside, according to their protocol, and arrived with the stretcher as soon as their intervention was requested by the medics to evacuate the player for his immediate transfer to hospital.
"The coordination between all the medical staff on site was professional and everything was done in accordance with the applicable medical procedures. There was no delay in the treatment of and assistance to the player."
