Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas was left fuming during England's World Cup match against Iran after Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand stayed on the pitch after receiving a heavy blow to the head.
Beiranvand clashed with Seyed Hosseini as the pair tried to claim a Harry Kane cross early on in the opening Group B fixture, but while the defender managed to walk off relatively unscathed, the keeper required a long spell of medical attention for what looked to be a concussion.
Despite the 30-year-old looking very dazed, he looked to be urged by his own captain to stay on. Beiranvand lasted just a few more minutes before dropping to the floor again and calling for a substitute appearance - much to the anger of Jenas on the BBC's commentary.
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"This is where it shouldn’t be his call," Jenas told BBC. "Hajsafi (Ehsan, captain) is getting involved and tell(ing) him to stay on the pitch. He’s asking for more time, he’s clearly not in a good place. I don’t see how this is right, I really don’t. It seems like he’s being forced to stay on, it’s ridiculous. It’s the responsibility of the medical team to make the call, make the decision.
"We’re at a major tournament in 2022, constantly talking about concussion in the game and the long-term affects with dementia and this happens. It’s out of order… he shouldn’t be on the pitch, I think it’s a joke."
FIFA's medical concussion protocol states that any signs or symptoms of concussion should lead to the immediate removal of the player for further, more in-depth testing: "If there are signs or symptoms of damage to the brain, or a concussive injury is suspected despite the absence of signs or symptoms, the doctor/therapist should remove the player from the pitch for a more detailed examination(using a concussion substitute if available/required).
"Due to the potential severe neurological consequences of a head injury, any suspicion of abnormal findings should result in the initiation of an appropriate examination and removal from the match or training session."
Teams are allowed to use a concussion substitute that would not count towards their usual five changes, although the opposition team would also be permitted an extra substitution as a result.
England raced into a 3-0 first-half lead thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling before 14 minutes were added on at the end of the period following the injury to Beiranvand.
