Liverpool legend Ian Rush has slammed the decision to keep Sadio Mane on the pitch following his head injury while in action for Senegal this week.
The Reds forward starred for his country in their win over Cape Verde in the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, to send Senegal through to the quarter-finals.
Mane scored the opening goal in a 2-0 victory, but just a few minutes before he was involved in a clash of heads with opposition goalkeeper Vozinha.
Following a lengthy VAR check, Vozinha was shown a red card for the challenge on Mane, but also had to be taken off the pitch with a head injury of his own.
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Mane, clearly in discomfort, remained on the pitch and scored a goal six minutes later before he was withdrawn and then taken to hospital for tests.
The 29-year-old posted an update on social media saying he was fine, but the decision that led to him staying on the pitch after his head injury has been criticised by a Liverpool legend.
Rush has reflected on his own personal experience of a head injury he sustained as a player, and outlined why more needs to be done to improve on the treatment of head injuries in football.
“It was disappointing to see Sadio Mane’s health put at risk in Senegal’s 2-0 win over Cape Verde in the Africa Cup of Nations this week,” Rush told Gambling.com .
“The Liverpool striker appeared to suffer a concussion after colliding with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, but was allowed to play on until it became clear he couldn’t.
“In this day and age, you have to stop anyone from continuing when there’s a serious head injury and take them off the field even if there’s the slightest doubt about their wellbeing.
“I remember in my playing days I once got a boot to the head in the process of scoring a goal and although I knew something wasn’t quite right, I finished the game. But during the game and after full-time, I had to keep asking my team-mates what the score was.
“It turned out I was concussed and had to spend the night in hospital to get myself right, so I can relate to what happened to Mane. But with advances in science and knowledge of head injuries today, there really should be no excuse for that to be happening in 2022.
“The safety of the player has to come first, above all else. Mane should have been taken off directly after the collision, not five or 10 minutes later.
“Knowing Mane, he wouldn’t have wanted to come off, but from a medical point of view it would have been the safest option.
“It just goes to show you that we still have some way to go in the fight to change attitudes towards head trauma in football.
“Great strides have been made in the English game, but there’s still room for improvement and players will never be fully safe until there is a global shift in how we approach head injuries.”
Rush went on to say how impressed he’s been with Liverpool in recent weeks, in the absence of Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita while the Africa Cup of Nations is being played.
The Reds have reached the Carabao Cup final, progressed to the next round of the FA Cup and won both Premier League matches since the trio departed.
“Liverpool have done really well in the absence of Mane and Mohamed Salah, getting to a final at Wembley and cutting a tiny piece out of Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League table,” said Rush.
“It goes to show you that Liverpool’s strength in depth is perhaps not as bad as some were making out before AFCON got underway.
“Don’t get me wrong, I was also wondering how they’d cope and I was concerned, but the players who have come in have put my mind at ease.
“I’m really pleased for the players who have stepped up, particularly those who had a hand in getting the team to Wembley for the League Cup final, which is a massive step for this group of players and the younger ones in particular.
“I used to love going to Wembley as a player, soaking in the build-up and the atmosphere created by the supporters.
“It was always an enjoyable occasion and your first Wembley experience will always leave you wanting more, which bodes well for both Jurgen Klopp’s senior and younger players.
“The fans will get a fun day out at Wembley for the first time since 2016 and I’m made up for them. They used to call Wembley our second home, so this cup final is well overdue.”
