Barnabas Varga is in a stable condition in hospital after reportedly breaking “several bones in his face” following a sickening crash 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 fell to the turf following a brutal collision with Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the 67th minute.
The Ferencvaros striker was immediately knocked unconscious and was seen lying rigid on the pitch while his desperate teammates frantically called for doctors on the touchline.
Varga was later carried off the field on a stretcher while sheets were pulled up to protect him from view.
The Hungarian Football Association released an update on his condition on Sunday evening saying: “Several bones in Barnabas Varga’s face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion. He will most likely be injured. wait for surgery.
‘He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team supports him!’
Meanwhile, Varga’s wife, Laura Skrapits, was forced to watch the entire incident from the stands, having traveled to Germany to support her partner and the national team’s European campaign.
The 27-year-old beautician saw first-hand the moment her husband suffered the savage blow while sitting with other Hungarian WAGs in the Stuttgart stadium.
Last night’s Group A match was stopped for around seven minutes after the 29-year-old Hungarian fell to the turf following a brutal collision with Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the 67th minute.
The sheets were lifted around Barnabas Varga as the Hungarian forward received treatment
Barnabas Varga is seen with his partner Laura Skrapits
Skrapits was forced to witness the entire incident from the stands.
The 27-year-old beautician saw first-hand the moment her husband suffered the savage blow while sitting with other Hungarian WAGs in the Stuttgart stadium.
Varga received medical treatment after a collision with Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn
Dominik Szoboszlai seemed to cry on the field while his teammate was being treated
Varga and Laura met in their hometown of Szentpeterfa in Hungary, although they now live in Budapest, where Varga’s Ferencvaros club is based.
The couple keeps their personal lives protected from fans, and Laura’s social media profiles are private, although Varga has in the past shared images of him celebrating a cup victory alongside his partner.
In a previous interview with Goal.com, Varga said of his relationship with Laura: “We’ve known each other (for a long time), which is the most natural thing there, everyone in the town knows everyone.”
‘My partner’s parents live a few hundred meters from mine. We can walk towards them.
“I like it here, I feel that once I stop playing football, I will return to Szentpeterfa.”
Yesterday’s brutal goal came when Varga and Gunn disputed the ball on a free kick in the penalty area, and the Scottish goalkeeper’s elbow appeared to connect with the striker’s head.
Both teams quickly realized that Varga needed medical attention as he lay stiff with his arms extended in the air.
Medics flooded the field and appeared to put Varga in a recovery position before raising sheets around him to shield the stricken striker from view.
He was stretchered off the field about six minutes later after being stabilized by medics.
Hungarian coach Marco Rossi revealed in his post-match press conference that Varga will need surgery after reportedly suffering a fractured cheekbone.
“The players were saying that he looked unconscious, so everyone was really worried about his condition and the fact that the doctors were late, we can say, but they probably didn’t realize that it was a dangerous situation,” Rossi said.
‘Fortunately he is not at risk, they will operate here (on the cheek).
“He’s healthy and that’s the most important thing.” If we pass, he will no longer be part of the team.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Gunn told the BBC in a post-match interview: “Everything was a bit blurry.” I thought I had to come and I thought I did well. It was a little painful. I hope the boy is well. I can’t really remember much about it.
Hungary’s players had shown their support for Varga with Kevin Csoboth raising his shirt in a show of support after scoring a dramatic winning goal 10 minutes into stoppage time.
Captain Dominik Szoboszlai was pictured wearing a Varga jersey at full time, with the Hungary team gathered to celebrate their victory.
“The most important thing is that Barni is better, we fought for it in the last 20 minutes,” said Hungarian striker Roland Sallai.
“In the end, we showed what kind of team we are, we never give up, that’s our strength.”
Szoboszlai was seen carrying the stretcher as he urged them to rush to treat his teammate.
Kevin Csoboth celebrated the winning goal by raising Varga’s jersey in support.
Szoboszlai was pictured wearing a Varga shirt at full-time after Hungary won 1-0 over Scotland.
Varga was placed in a neck brace as a precaution against the possibility that he had suffered a spinal injury in the collision.
M4 Sport later reported that Varga was able to communicate with medical staff after appearing on the field.
The sheets were lifted around the injured forward as he received medical attention, and the Hungarian players helped stewards and doctors cover their teammate.
He was then seen being carried off the pitch on a stretcher, with Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai helping to carry Varga off the pitch.
Hungary captain Szoboszlai was also seen crying after the event, and other members of the team looked visibly distraught.
Angus Gunn also received medical attention but, despite landing awkwardly on his back, was able to continue playing.
The match resumed in the 74th minute, seven minutes after the incident occurred.
Television coverage continued to show the pitch and the reactions of the players, coaching staff and fans in the stands for three minutes after the incident.
The BBC, which showed the match in the UK, said it was “surprised” that UEFA had decided to show a replay of the incident.
Varga, right, was seen fighting for possession with Scotland’s Scott McKenna earlier in the match.
Hungary’s players kept Varga’s jersey at full-time after beating Scotland to boost their last-16 hopes.
‘Huge condolences to Scotland and their tartan army in Stuttgart and beyond. It wasn’t going to be Scotland again,” BBC presenter Gabby Logan said after the match.
‘And, just to echo (commentator) Steve (Wilson)’s thoughts, all our thoughts are, of course, with Barbaras Varga after that sickening collision and we will let you know when we get information.
‘At the moment we have no further information about his condition. We were as surprised as you when they repeated that incident.
‘There are protocols for this kind of thing after Christian Eriksen three years ago.
“We were very surprised that UEFA decided to show that replay, so we immediately cut to a wide angle as soon as we could.”
Hungary’s 1-0 victory could see the nation advance to the last 16 as one of the third-highest placed teams, while the result ended Scotland’s Euro 2024 campaign.
