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Fabian Schar unable to remember anything after Switzerland head injury

Brain injury charity Headway has called for a UEFA investigation after Schar was allowed to play on

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Switzerland defender Fabian Schar was left unconscious after clashing heads with a Georgia player

Newcastle defender Fabian Schar says he was unable to "remember anything" after suffering a clash of heads in Switzerland's European Qualifier against Georgia.

Schar collided with Georgia defender Jemal Tabidze in the first half of Saturday's European Qualifier, which Switzerland won 2-0, and was left motionless on the ground.

Georgia's Jano Ananidze reacted quickly, reaching into Schar's mouth to avoid the 27-year-old choking on his own tongue.

Fabian Schar in action for Newcastle against Brighton
Image: Newcastle will be hoping Schar is fit to return against Arsenal

Schar played the rest of the game, but it is not yet known if he will feature in Switzerland's next European Qualifier against Denmark on Tuesday.

"It looks awful, I can't remember anything," Schar told Swiss newspaper Blick after the game.

"I was out for a few seconds. My skull is still humming. And I've got a neck-ache and a bruise on my forehead.

"But it was worth it."

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Newcastle are already without the suspended defender for the club's Premier League game Arsenal on Monday April 1, live on Sky Sports.

Brain injury charity Headway has called for a UEFA investigation after Schar was allowed to play on.

A statement from Headway on Monday said: "The charity has demanded UEFA launches an investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Swiss player Fabian Schar being cleared to continue playing in a match against Georgia - just minutes after being knocked unconscious and needing emergency help from a member of the opposition."

Headway chief executive Peter McCabe added: "What is it going to take to make football take concussion seriously?"

"How many more players will have their careers and, more importantly, their lives and long-term health put at risk by the sport's inability to follow its own protocols?

"Put simply, the decision to allow Fabian Schar to return to the field of play after suffering a clear concussion was not only incredibly dangerous, but also a clear dereliction of duty.

"The player's comments after the match are also deeply disturbing and again show the lack of awareness and understanding among players.

"UEFA must immediately launch an investigation into the incident and explain why their protocols were not followed."

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