Hungary striker Barnabas Varga was stretched off during his side’s Euro 2024 clash with Scotland after colliding with Angus Gunn as a free-kick was swung into the box
Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was left in tears after seeing Barnabas Varga suffer a serious injury after a sickening collision with Scotland keeper Angus Gunn.
Varga was injured as a free-kick was swung into the Scotland box, with Gunn jumping over the top of him. The Hungary star appeared to smash into Gunn’s arm and was left stricken on the ground.
The referee immediately stopped the game, with medical staff being rushed onto the pitch by Hungary’s players. After being put in the recovery position by his team-mates, a screen was erected around Varga while he received treatment.
Hungary’s players also rushed to hurry up the stretcher bearers as they walked onto the pitch, with Varga cleary in distress. The incident left the Hungary squad in understandable upset, with captain Szoboszlai pictured in tears.
The Hungarian FA subsequently confirmed the forward had been rushed to hospital where he remained in stable condition. Manager Marco Rossi stated Varga had suffered a fractured cheekbone which would need operating on, but was otherwise ‘healthy’.
“What I heard from the players is that Barney looked unconscious. Everybody was really worried about his condition, and worried that the doctors arrived a bit late. Probably they didn’t realise it was a dangerous situation.
“We can say now that Barney is not under any kind of risks. Probably he will be operated on in the coming hours because he suffered a fracture here [points to cheek], but he’s healthy.
“Of course if we will go through the competition he will not be any more part of the team.”
After a six-minute delay, Varga was stretchered off the pitch, with the crowd at the Stuttgart Arena rising as one to applaud him off. The host broadcaster allowed one replay of the incident to be shown, with VAR also checking for a potential penalty against Gunn.
That check was cleared though, with the game remaining goalless. Former Scotland international Pat Nevin defended Gunn for racing off his line, insisting the collision was totally accidental.
He told BBC 5 Live: “We have seen it before if a keeper comes out and he doesn’t get the ball but takes a player it is a foul. I actually think Angus Gunn got some of the ball there.”
With Varga heading to hospital, Hungary pressed for a winner and found it in the ninth minute of injury time. Roland Sallai was played in down the right and he pulled it back to Kevin Csoboth, who swept the ball into the bottom corner.
That result saw Scotland crash out of the tournament, having picked up just one point from their three games. Hungary meanwhile face a nervous wait to see if they can secure one of the ‘best third-place’ slots in the knockout stages.
The BBC apologised for showing the replay, insisting it was not their decision to screen it following Varga’s injury. Presenter Gabby Logan said: “There are protocols after the Christian Eriksen incident, we were very surprised that UEFA chose to show that replay which is why we cut away as soon as we could.”
Man of the Match Rolan Sallai said: “It was a terrible moment to see him like that. He’ll have to go tough a minor operation, but we cross our fingers for him that he can return.
“Naturally it was a terrible incident. Of course were fighting for him in remaining minutes and this win is dedicated to him.”
Messages of support for Varga flooded in on social media while his team struggled to break down Scotland. Varga had played a substantial role in both of Hungary’s previous two group games.
He played all 90 minutes in the opening round defeat to Switzerland, before featuring for 87 minutes as his side lost to Germany. They entered Sunday’s game needing to win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16.
Varga started his career at Austrian Bundesliga side Lafnitz, before joining Hungarian side Gyirmot in 2019. He scored 29 goals in 60 games, earning a move to Paks, where he continued his fine scoring record by notching 29 in just 33 matches.
That record saw him signed by Hungarian giants Ferencvárosi. The 29-year-old scored 29 goals in 40 appearances to fire his side to the Hungarian title and earn a place in his country’s squad for the Euros.
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