Thursday, 9th October, 2014
FIFA medical chief Michel D'Hooghe has backed Chelsea's approach regarding goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' head injury during the match against Arsenal on Sunday.
The Belgian international suffered from a head injury during the match and had to be eventually replaced in the 24th minute.
However, the Pensioners and their team doctors were criticised for not having anticipated a concussion and letting Courtois continue for another 14 minutes before he was substituted.
However, D'Hooghe insists that team doctor Eva Carneiro did the "right examination", coming to the conclusion to let him continue at first, but finally taking him off.
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"In the case of Chelsea, I think sincerely that the team doctor did a correct examination", D'Hooghe was quoted as saying by ITV.
"She came to a conclusion that he could go on.
"But she kept an eye on him and from the moment he didn't feel well – and that can happen in the case of concussion – they took again the right decision to take him off.
"A team doctor can be under pressure of the coach, the whole stadium.
"[But] it is only the team doctor who knows very well the normal behaviour of his [or her] player.
"It is the team doctor who has the medical responsibility over his players. He is the only medical person who knows his players."
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