Nicola Rizzoli had a concerned expression etched across his face as he walked up to Bastian Schweinsteiger. He needed to deliver an important message. He felt Christoph Kramer's time was up. He had to leave the pitch.
Why did Rizzoli feel so? After all, Kramer was not the first player to return back to the pitch following a head injury. Alvaro Pereira of Uruguay and Javier Mascherano of Argentina had done the same in the earlier rounds. But Kramer needed to go.
The Borussia Mönchengladbach youngster came up to Rizzoli following his return to the pitch after treatment. He asked the Italian whether he was playing in the World Cup Final. Rizzoli, somewhat bewildered, thought Kramer was attempting strange humor. When Kramer asked him the question for a second time, he knew he had to talk to the Germany vice captain.
Kramer finally left the pitch and gave way for Andre Schürrle. However, he reminded the World about FIFA's attitude towards head injuries. Concussions are deadly; players should not be allowed back on the pitch following one. Kramer's example shows this clearly, especially because he suffered temporary memory loss and does not remember the first half.
Kramer's eyes told the story; he seemed dazed. He did not seem to be staring forward clearly. FIFA allows individual teams to deal with concussions of their players. It seems they are not ready to enforce rules about the issue yet. Pereira, for example, yelled at the Uruguayan staff and insisted he stay on. He was awarded his wish, at the expense of his health.
Bryan Namoff suffered a blow to the head as a DC United star in September 2009. He went on to complete the match and played another three days later. However, headaches which began following the injury has continued, even to this day. Namoff has retired; he is still unhappy about why he was allowed to return to the pitch. Namoff's case forced the MLS to change their rules.
In 2010, the MLS made it clear that no player was allowed to stay on following a head injury and only allowed to return to the pitch if he shows no symptoms of a serious injury for the following 24 hours.
FIFA, usually resistant to change, continues to avoid the issue entirely. It is time they step up, before players like Kramer suffer serious damages, damages, which instead of threatening their careers, might turn out to threaten their lives.
