Euro 2024: Hungary striker Barnabas Varga stretchered off the pitch following a collision in game against Scotland
Hungary striker Barnabas Varga was stretchered off during their EURO 2024 group stage match with Scotland on Sunday (June 23), leaving several players in tears. The forward was severely injured after Magyarok captain Dominik Szoboszlai sent in a free-kick into the area.
Varga and Scotland's Angus Gunn were involved in a serious collision that had up to four players on the pitch. However, the striker's injury seemed particularly severe, as medical staff and physios were quickly called to him.
The Hungarian players were in tears as they made moves to hurry the medical staff up. Stewards at the stadium also erected a screen around the stretcher, so the forward's immediate treatment could be hidden from the crowd.
Varga was eventually stretchered off, with the entire MHPArena applauding him. The delay saw the game get an extra 10 minutes of injury time, which Hungary used as an opportunity to find a winner (90+10') in the EURO 2024 clash.
A corner for Scotland saw the Hungarians take the ball and begin a counterattack, with Kevin Csoboth leading the charge. The substitute linked up with Roland Sallai and drove into the box to put the ball into the back of the net after receiving a return cross from his teammate.
The result saw Scotland getting knocked out of EURO 2024 at the group stage, while Hungary live to fight another day.
UEFA punish Albania forward with two-game ban for nationalist chants at EURO 2024
UEFA has banned Albania forward Mirlind Daku for two games following his nationalist chants at EURO 2024 after they drew 2-2 with Croatia on Wednesday (June 19). Serbia threatened to withdraw from the tournament after the forward led fans to provocative chants.
The Serbia Football Federation General Secretary, Jovan Surbatovic, told Serbia state broadcaster RTS (via BBC):
"What happened is scandalous and we will ask [European governing body] Uefa for sanctions, even if it means not continuing the competition."
This has led to Daku's ban and the Albanian Football Federation paying a fine of €25,000. They also further paid €22,500 after fans invaded the pitch and lit fireworks.
Daku has since apologized for his actions, saying (via SportsMole):
"Apologising is manly, and I feel a moral and professional obligation to do so, for all those who have been hurt. Like any footballer, in those moments the emotions are on another level, which can only be understood on the field. It is difficult to describe the feeling of playing for this national team, for these wonderful fans who give us unlimited love."
It is uncertain if he will play another game in EURO 2024, with Albania seen as underdogs and potentially set to be kicked out at the group stage or in the first knockout game.