Barnabas Varga is stable in hospital after reportedly breaking ‘several bones in his face’ after a sickening clash during Hungary’s Euro 2024 match against Scotland in Stuttgart.
Last night’s Group A match was stopped for around seven minutes after the 29-year-old Hungarian was sent tumbling to the turf following a brutal collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the 67th minute.
The Ferencvaros forward was immediately knocked unconscious and was seen lying rigid on the pitch as desperate teammates frantically signalled medics on the touchline.
Varga was later carried off the field on a stretcher while sheets were held up to shield him from view.
The Hungarian Football Association released an update on his condition late on Sunday evening that read: ‘Several bones in Barnabas Varga’s face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion. Surgery is most likely to be expected.
‘He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team is rooting for him!’
Meanwhile, Varga’s wife Laura Skrapits was forced to watch the entire incident from the stands, having travelled to Germany to support her partner and the national team’s European campaign.
The 27-year-old beautician saw the moment her husband suffered the savage blow firsthand as she sat alongside other Hungarian WAGs in the stadium in Stuttgart.
Last night’s Group A match was stopped for around seven minutes after the 29-year-old Hungarian was sent tumbling to the turf following a brutal collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the 67th minute
Sheets were raised around Barnabas Varga as the Hungary forward received treatment
Barnabas Varga is seen with partner Laura Skrapits
Skrapits was forced to watch the entire incident from the stands
The 27-year-old beautician saw the moment her husband suffered the savage blow firsthand as she sat alongside other Hungarian WAGs in the stadium in Stuttgart
Varga is seen completing a puzzle of him celebrating on with pitch with Laura
Varga received medical treatment following a collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn
Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to be in tears on the pitch as his team-mate was treated
Varga and Laura met in their home village of Szentpeterfa in Hungary, though they now live in Budapest where Varga’s Ferencvaros club is based.
The couple had previously kept their personal life guarded from fans, but in the wake of last night’s incident Laura made her social media profile public amid the flurry of well-wishes and shared several snaps of the pair’s adventures together.
Varga has in the past shared images of him celebrating a cup victory alongside Laura.
In an earlier interview with Goal.com, Varga said of his relationship with Laura: ‘We have known each other [for a long time], which is the most natural thing there, everyone in the village knows everyone.
‘My partner’s parents live a few hundred metres from mine. We can walk to them.
‘I like being here, I feel that once I stop playing football, I will move back to Szentpeterfa.’
Yesterday’s brutal smash came as Varga and Gunn both challenged for the ball from a free kick in the penalty area, with the Scotland goalkeeper’s elbow appearing to connect with the forward’s head.
Both teams quickly realised Varga needed medical attention as he lay stiff, arms outstretched in the air.
Medics flooded the field and appeared to put the Varga into the recovery position before erecting sheets around him to shield the stricken forward from view.
He was stretchered off the pitch some six minutes later, having been stabilised by medics.
Hungary boss Marco Rossi revealed in his post-match press conference that Varga will require surgery after reportedly suffering a fractured cheekbone.
‘The players were saying he looked unconscious so everyone was really worried about his condition and worried about the fact that the doctors arrived late, we can say, but they probably didn’t realise it was a dangerous situation,’ Rossi said.
‘Thankfully he is not under risk, he will be operated on here [his cheek].
‘He’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing. If we go through, he is no longer part of the team.’
Scotland’s Gunn meanwhile told the BBC in a post-match interview: ‘It was a bit of a blur. I thought I had to come and thought I’d done well. It was a bit painful. Hopefully the guy is all right. I can’t really remember too much about it.’
Hungary’s players had shown their support to Varga with Kevin Csoboth raising his shirt as a show of support after scoring a dramatic winner 10 minutes into injury time.
Captain Dominik Szoboszlai was pictured wearing a Varga shirt at full-time, with the Hungary team gathering to celebrate their victory.
‘The most important thing is that Barni is better, we fought for it in the last 20 minutes,’ said Hungary forward Roland Sallai.
‘In the end, we showed what kind of team we are, we never give up, this is our strength.’
Laura Skrapits and Barnabas Varga
The couple are seen in a lift in this image shared by Laura on social media
Szoboszlai was seen carrying the stretcher as he urged them to rush to treat his team-mate
Kevin Csoboth celebrated his match winning goal by holding up Varga’s shirt in support
Szoboszlai was pictured wearing a Varga shirt at full-time after Hungary won 1-0 against Scotland
Varga was put in a neck brace as a precaution given the possibility he had suffered a spinal injury in the collision.
M4 Sport later reported Varga was able to communicate with medical staff after coming round on the pitch.
Sheets were raised around the injured forward as he received medical attention, with Hungary’s players helping stewards and doctors cover their team-mate.
He was then seen being taken from the field on a stretcher, with Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai helping to carry Varga from the pitch.
The Hungary captain, Szoboszlai, was also seen in tears after the event happened, with other members of the team looking visibly distressed.
Angus Gunn also received medical attention but despite landing awkwardly on his back was able to continue playing.
The match was resumed in the 74th minute, seven minutes after the incident took place.
Broadcast coverage continued to show the pitch and reactions from players, coaching staff and fans in the stands for three minutes after the incident.
The BBC, who showed the match in the UK, said it was ‘shocked’ UEFA chose to show a replay of the incident.
Varga, right, seen jostling for possession with Scotland’s Scott McKenna earlier in the match
Hungary players held Varga’s shirt at full-time after beating Scotland to boost their last-16 hopes
‘Huge commiserations to Scotland and their Tartan Army in Stuttgart and beyond. It wasn’t to be once again for Scotland,’ said BBC presenter Gabby Logan post-match.
‘And, just to echo [commentator] Steve’s [Wilson] thoughts there, all of our thoughts are of course with Barbaras Varga after that sickening collision and we are updating you when we get information.
‘At the moment, we have no more on his condition. We were as shocked as you when they replayed that incident.
‘There are protocols around this kind of thing after Christian Eriksen three years ago.
‘We were very surprised that UEFA chose to show that replay, which is why we cut away immediately to a wide-angle as soon as we could.’
Hungary’s 1-0 win could see the nation advance to the last-16 as one of the best placed third-placed teams, while the result ended Scotland’s Euro 2024 campaign.
