6
May

Goalkeeper knocked unconscious after hitting post

If you’ve played goalkeeper before, you know there is always a risk of getting hurt even though you’re not a field player (just ask Petr Cech, who nearly lost his life in a scary collision with an opponent in 2006). In the Belgium Pro League this weekend, we saw exactly how scary life as a goalkeeper can be.

Sporting Lokeren’s Boubacar Copa Barry was knocked unconscious after smashing his head against the post while diving to his right to save a shot by Club Brugge’s Carlos Bacca. Barry, who is also Cote d’Ivoire’s national team keeper, remained motionless on the ground for several minutes before being stretchered off and taken to the nearest hospital.

Thankfully, Barry’s injury was not life-threatening. According to Belgian news site Knack.be, Barry suffered a concussion, but was later discharged from hospital.

UPDATE: Lokeren spokesman Romain Van Schoor said Tuesday the club ”does not expect him to play in any of the remaining games of the playoffs,” which end on May 19.

26
Apr

Stu Holden is finally back on track

It’s been a long and tiring road of recovery for Stuart Holden.

Ever since Jonny Evans’ studs destroyed his knee in March 2011, Holden has been battling to get to full strength and fitness. He faced several setbacks with his knee in his rehabilitation process, but has finally made it back onto the pitch. FOX Soccer spoke with Holden, his brother Euan and girlfriend Karalyn about his recovery process, and now his return to playing.

He hopes to help Bolton get back to Premier League, and contribute to the U.S. men’s national team in the near future — he has his sights set on the World Cup in Brazil.

Part one:

Part two:

21
Apr

Meanwhile, in the Romanian 5th league

Where else but a fifth league match would you be able to see something as incredible as this: the field medics’ vehicle of choice is a motorized wheelbarrow. It would be easy to imagine someone faking an injury just to get a chance to take a ride in this thing.

Making the spectacle that much better, take a look at the :27 mark to see what happens when the injured player tries to soak up the spotlight.

H/T /r/Soccer

20
Apr

Report: Adil Rami sustained injuries performing Gangnam Style dance

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According to multiple reports, Valencia’s defender Adil Rami sustained injuries dancing to Gangnam Style at a charity concert earlier this month. The French player reportedly suffered blisters which caused him to miss training sessions and Valencia’s match against La Liga side Espanyol last week.

Valencia supporters were not pleased with the news, going so far as demanding that Rami return his salary to the club. ‘It’s a joke – he has let his teammates down and should give back the money,’ wrote one angry Valencia fan on a web forum.

It remains to be seen which is more embarrassing: the fact Rami injured himself dancing or the fact that he was caught rocking to Psy’s internet sensation.

Here is footage of Rami’s infamous dance and injury:

7
Mar

Hope Solo undergoes wrist surgery

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The US women’s nationa team’s star goalkeeper Hope Solo had wrist surgery on Thursday, according to her official Twitter account.

Her team in the new US women’s soccer pro league, Seattle Reign FC, announced Feb. 22 that she would have surgery on her injured wrist, which had damaged ligaments. The team reported that her recovery time would be 6-8 weeks.

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27
Feb

Here’s something you might see in hockey pretty frequently, but not on the soccer pitch: Zhivko Milanov of Romanian club FC Vaslui lost not one, not two, not three…not four…but FIVE teeth after accidentally being kicked in the face by CFR Cluj captain Cadu.

Cadu received a red card for the kick, but on second look, you have to say Milanov put himself in danger there unfortunately. Either way, what a gruesome injury!

26
Feb

A scary scene took place on Monday night reminding us all of the true dangers surrounding aerial clashes.

During the second half of Galatasaray’s 4-2 win over Orduspor, the match was interrupted by a head injury to Orduspor’s David Barral. Barral was left concussed after clashing heads with ex-Chelsea star Didier Drogba when the players challenged for a ball during a corner kick.

Medical personnel rushed the field and carted the Spanish player to a near hospital. In a touching and classy gesture, Drogba paid Barral a hospital visit, even though the Champions League hero was feeling the effects of the head clash himself: