CLARKE CARLISLE: Lloris was brave, loyal and committed... but safety must come first and we cannot put players' lives at risk

Clarke Carlisle

Clarke Carlisle is an ex-chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association who believes that Hugo Lloris' incident against Everton needs to act as a watershed in football's attitudes towards concussion. The former Blackpool, QPR, Burnley, Preston and Leeds central defender talks in his Footballers' Football Column about how he was knocked out a number of times during his playing career but carried on to finish matches. The 34-year-old has become a pundit and will be working at the World Cup in Brazil.

 

Hugo Lloris' concussion during Tottenham's draw at Everton - where he was accidentally caught in the face by Romelu Lukaku's knee - is the perfect moment to act as a watershed with regards to this issue. There is no tragic circumstance. It's an incident where the discussion has taken place and we have an opportunity to say 'you know what, this could have gone one of two ways.'

Fortunately this time it went the good way, but we have to make sure football in this country doesn't put itself in a position where a managerial decision, a player's bravery or the importance of a match could cost somebody their life.

It is trying to strike the balance between the competitive edge of an athlete, win-at-all-cost culture and the safety of an individual.

Taking the hit: Romelu Lukaku collides with Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris

Taking the hit: Romelu Lukaku collides with Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris

Worrying moment: Lloris is escorted off the pitch

Worrying moment: Lloris is escorted off the pitch

Dazed and confused: Lloris speaks with medical staff after being escorted off the pitch after the collission

Dazed and confused: Lloris speaks with medical staff after being escorted off the pitch after the collission

There comes a point where those two have to separate. You have a physio to come on to aid physical injuries but as soon as it becomes an issue of such gravity it should be taken out of their hands and become a medical decision.

It's as simple as having a rule that is black and white. For every 137,000 cases where people are concussed and happily crack on and finish the game, one person will suffer a Cranial Hematoma and die.

Those odds just aren't acceptable.

We're at a time now in science where we know a lot more. People used to carry on - like Bert Trautmann with a broken neck. We know how dangerous head injuries can be. I think this is one of those moments where medical knowledge has to take presidence.

There is a duty of care to the individual. Lloris should have been taken off the pitch. We should have a protocol that says he comes off in that instance. They did a CT (computerised tomography) scan and that should be mandatory for safety's sake.

Sometimes bravado, appetite or desire to stay in the game has to be overruled, and that was one of them.

Lloris was brave, loyal and committed, but that is the passion of the moment. There is a responsibility that overrides all of those emotions and that is the health of the individual.

That decision should be taken out of his hands and out of his manager's hands. They were caught up in a pivotal moment during a game that was 0-0. Either side could have gone second in the Premier League and that is incredibly important to their season.

Their judgement is naturally clouded, whereas there are medically trained staff who should have the power and ability to make that decision for them.

It shouldn't be anything to do with the people who have a vested interest in the result.

There are a lot of suppositions as to what went on. We're all looking at what happened but don't know exactly who was talking to who and who made the final call.

Until we have the exact information as to what went on you can't cast aspersions on any individuals. What it has done is bring an issue to the forefront of our minds that we need clarification on.

Watching Michael Dawson clearly say he should come off was excellent. We have come a long way in the context of our medical knowledge, our understanding of health and safety in the way we do have that care. It was excellent that the captain took the lead in that situation to say that this is what should be happen.

Do the right thing: Michael Dawson and Mousa Dembele encourage Lloris to go off the pitch

Do the right thing: Michael Dawson and Mousa Dembele encourage Lloris to go off the pitch

But it shouldn't be his role - he has a vested interest. There should be definitive protocol that needs to be followed in the case of concussion.

If FIFA rules don't have to be applied here then the Premier League should make sure there is protocol in place.

Players shoudn't have to do that, they shouldn't have to think about it. It should just be part of the protocol. If someone damages their neck you brace them up, on a board and off to hospital because you don't know the severity of the situation.

That is standard procedure and should be the same when we talk about concussion.

I've been knocked out loads of times on the pitch. I remember the first one. It was for Blackpool against Millwall at home years ago. I ran into our goalkeeper Tony Caig and the only reason I came off was because it was a blood injury and needed stitching up. I still have the scar on my nose.

Clarke Carlisle
Tony Craig

Clash: Clarke Carlisle was knocked out when playing for Blackpool by his keeper Tony Craig

A couple of years later I got knocked out in a game. It came to 'are you ok?' and I said 'yes'. I headed the ball not 10 seconds later and had no idea where I was - completely disorientated. The physio came on again and said 'are you sure you're ok?' My answer: 'I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm the captain.' I went out and finished the game.

That is a situation just there that enforces the point that you can't leave the decision to the individual. I've been knocked out and obviously concussed if a routine header has sent me that way again. I let on to the physio that I was ok - how was he supposed to know the extent of the damage?

I've been knocked out numerous times, but only came off once. I look back and think how fortunate I am. 

Stepping down: Carlisle left his role as PFA Chairman when he retired

Stepping down: Carlisle left his role as PFA Chairman when he retired

The role of chairman of the PFA has been incredibly tough and very challenging. It has been so educational though. What is satisfying for me is the phone calls I have from players who have come to the union or me personally with problems, we club together fix it and they call up and say 'thanks very much'.

They are the situations that make the job so worthwhile.

I would say players - or people on their behalf - to have been in touch must run into the thousands.

Ritchie Humphreys has taken over from me, and we've been in dialogue. I don't think he fully appreciated how intense the role can be when a topic flares.

Baptism of fire: Chesterfield's Ritchie Humphreys replaced Carlisle as PFA Chairman

Baptism of fire: Chesterfield's Ritchie Humphreys replaced Carlisle as PFA Chairman

Incident: Humphreys had to deal with the Roy Hodgson racism storm following the World Cup qualifier

Incident: Humphreys had to deal with the Roy Hodgson racism storm following the World Cup qualifier

In his first week he got a full baptism of fire. Not only did he and his wife have a newborn child, Chesterfield were on an unbeaten run, he was scoring goals and the Roy Hodgson story with Andros Townsend blew up! Brilliant.

That is what it's like. Something happens and everyone comes straight to the PFA. Your phone melts. It's a circus - complete bedlam.

I'm really enjoying the punditry with ITV. I feel like an apprentice again - learning a new skill. I'm having to watch football in a whole different way to become a student of the game. Not only the way its played, but also listening to the way in which commentators and co-commentators interact, what works, what doesn't and phrases that really turn my stomach.

It's a new art-form.

New chapter: Carlisle is enjoying his role after football as a co-commentator for ITV

New chapter: Carlisle is enjoying his role after football as a co-commentator for ITV

I don't like sweeping generalisations, and it is incredibly hard not to do it. This is a profession, so you should be able to be professional about it. It isn't a pub chat. It is hard not to generalise, but that is your job.

As a co-commentator, my role is to say why something has happened. You have to watch the game differently and have a game of chess with the manager. What would I do if I were in his shoes? It's almost like a glorified game of Championship Manager.

I will definitely be going to the World Cup, which I am so looking forward to it. It is another side to this job that takes my football experience to another level. Commentating on the Europa League... going to the Mestalla and out to Moldova. I'm going to Tromso in a couple of weeks. These are parts of football I couldn't have dreamed reaching as a player, which is why this transition has been made easier - because I'm now experiencing a new level of the game.

I need a job. I'm really enjoying this role and will do it as long as they will have me and I continue to improve. Obviously I have long-term goals that I hope to head towards, and this is the door that I'm privileged to have opened. I'll run through that door and see where it takes me.

 

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