Tottenham Hotspur started the 2023-24 Premier League season with a 2-2 draw against Brentford on Sunday, coming from behind to secure a point having initially taken the lead.
Argentina international centre-back Cristian Romero opened the scoring for Spurs but had to be withdrawn shortly after his goal as he appeared dazed while the visitors celebrated their opener due to a clash of heads with Bryan Mbuemo earlier on in the game.
The Tottenham star, who currently earns £165,000 per week, continued action after the head collision and provided a goal that proved crucial, but Richard Keys is disappointed with the North London club and is hoping they do not play him against Manchester United on Saturday.
“Top marks to Tottenham for getting Romero off after that nasty clash of heads,” the former Sky Sports pundit wrote on his blog.
“But why did they wait 10 mins to do it? And why didn’t Brentford take the same precautions with Mbeumo?
“Romero scored with his head. I don’t have access to the medical reports, but clearly Spurs were running a huge risk leaving him on. It’s during that time that a player is most vulnerable. A second blow to the head can be fatal.
“We know it was a concussion substitution because Postecoglou was bemoaning the fact that they didn’t fill in the correct paperwork – thereby not wasting one of his five possible changes.
“Will Spurs now follow the guidelines and not select Romero for the next game?
“We’ve got to take player safety more seriously. Spurs got half way towards the correct decision.”
Tottenham should have withdrawn Romero immediately as things could have gotten worse had he suffered another knock to the head, and it is disappointing that they put the result of the game ahead of safety.
The centre-back would have given the medical team the green light to continue the game after he was attended to, but the final decision should not be with him.
Every player wants to play through an injury and put their body on the line, but head collisions should result in instant substitutions, and the fact that Romero could not go ahead with the game a few minutes later was worrying.
Spurs face the Red Devils in their first home game of the campaign and manager Ange Postecoglou will be desperate to get a victory in front of the fans, but he should not risk the Argentine who could do with some rest for some days, and being without him for one game would not hurt anyone.
