Manchester United star Raphaël Varane has revealed he has unfortunately been suffering from concussion problems for the last decade in a fresh effort to improve protocols around head injuries in world football.
The often-injured Man United and now internationally retired French defender was speaking to sports outlet L’Équipe in an exclusive interview when he detailed that not only has he had to pull out games due to concussion concerns but has played through matches even with head injury symptoms.
Citing instances such as a 2019/20 match for Real Madrid against Man City and fixtures as far back as 2014 when France came up against Brazil in the round of 16, he described his performances as being on “autopilot” and that he was unsure he would have even been able to respond if someone spoke to him.
As for similar experiences since joining United, he described a game earlier this season where he headed the ball multiple times and was feeling “abnormally tired in the following days, as well as having some eye fatigue” before being deemed unfit to play the next match.
🎙️ | Raphaël Varane on concussion protocal in football:
“I know that, personally, I won’t live until 100; I know that I have damaged my body and put myself in danger. By speaking about it, situations can perhaps be better analysed and take decisions based on risks.”
The 30-year-old serial winner explained that although steps have been taken to protect his health down the years, the protocols surrounding potential concussions and injury culture, in general, aren’t quite where they need to be.
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“As footballers playing at the highest level, we are used to pain, we are a bit like soldiers, tough guys, symbols of physical strength, but these symptoms are almost invisible”, says Varane.
“If your leg hurts and you limp, everyone sees it. But with head injuries, it immediately feels weak to say that you are tired, that you have migraines or eye fatigue… So at first, we tell ourselves that it will pass.”
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Varane left the French national team in 2023 to look after his overall fitness and also said he has already advised his seven-year-old son not to head the ball when playing, reiterating that “even if it does not cause immediate trauma, we know that in the long term, repeated shocks are likely to have harmful effects.”
The seasoned centre-back went on to confess that it was only this season that he heard about “The first time I heard about micro-concussions after specialists came in to talk to the United squad about it, adding that most players “don’t understand and we don’t even think about doing a test”.
It was only in December 2022 that football fans were left fuming with the Football Association (FA) themselves for mocking a potentially serious head injury during a cup tie and while things have improved in recent years, it’s clear that there’s still a lot of preventive rework still to be done.
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Fellow footballing legend Alan Shearer has been at the forefront of trying to improve awareness around concussions in football and the links to conditions like CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) as Varane is by no means the first and sadly won’t be the last.
Paul Scholes blasts Ruben Amorim for ‘bull****’ response to Kobbie Mainoo question
Danny Jones
Club legend Paul Scholes has called out Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim for what he dubbed a “bull****” reaction to a question from a journalist regarding Kobbie Mainoo on Thursday.
The Portuguese coach saw his Premier League win rate clock in at just under 44% (the lowest of any Man United manager for, let’s just say, some time) after the 1-1 home draw against West Ham.
Conceding a late goal against the Irons, who are currently sat in the relegation zone, the Red Devils ultimately dropped another two points against a side that they should be beating, both based on present form and if they have any hopes of competing for the top spots.
Unsurprisingly, Amorim was pressed on why he didn’t make a more offensive substitution to try and claw back the victory, to which he then asked what looked to be a somewhat loaded question and gave this reaction after the response:
The laughter, in particular, hasn’t gone down well with everyone, especially the Class of ’92 graduate and retired midfielder.
Jumping on social media after the quotes from the Amorim press conference were out, Scholes posted on his Instagram story: Bull****. This kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football.”
He went on to add: “Hate seeing homegrown players leave, but it’s probably best for him now – enough is enough.”
First off, Reds – do you agree?
It isn’t the first time Scholes has levelled criticism at Amorim, his tactics, management and overall coaching style, having said this of their previous appointment at Old Trafford.
Paul Scholes on Ruben Amorim's tactics against 10-man Everton which frustrated him 😬 pic.twitter.com/AgsESuH83h
Safe to say he isn’t his biggest supporter at the moment.
Fellow former teammate and England international turned pundit, Gary Neville, was also left not just confused but frustrated by the performance, telling Sky Sports in his post-match interview that he noted the camera picking up “real dejection” on the faces of the fans after the full-time whistle.
With an away trip against Wolves, a home match against Bournemouth, as well as travelling to face high-flying European place competitors, Aston Villa, before hosting Newcastle on Boxing Day, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the results will pan out.
You can see the highlights from Man United vs West Ham down below.
How many points do you see them picking up over the next four fixtures?
BBC releases first look of new drama series based on inspirational journey of England men’s football team
Emily Sergeant
First look images of a new BBC drama series based on award-winning play Dear England have been released.
The four-part series based on James Graham’s Olivier-award winning play of the same name tells the story of Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team journey to renewed success, and it’s set to air on BBC One and iPlayer next year.
Dear England is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews.
The stage play premiered at the National Theatre to five-star reviews, winning an Olivier award for ‘Best New Play’, and enjoying a sell-out run in 2023 before it returned to the National Theatre earlier this year and then embarked on a national tour.
The first look images of new BBC series Dear England have been released / Credit: BBC
With the worst team track record for penalties in the world when he takes over as manager, Gareth knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take England back to the promised land.
The country that gave the world football has delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t the England team win at their own game?
Joseph Fiennes will reprise his Olivier award-nominated role as Gareth Southgate in the new series.
Joseph Fiennes will star as former manager Gareth Southgate / Credit: BBC
The first look pictures see Fiennes in his role for the first time in scenes depicting England’s triumphant Euro 2024 Semi-Final celebrations, where the men’s team reached their first final of a major tournament on foreign soil.
Fiennes is joined by Jodie Whittaker as England men’s team psychologist Pippa Grange, and Daniel Ryan as Steve Holland the former assistant manager, whilst Will Antenbring stars as Harry Kane, joined by an ensemble cast of upcoming actors as the rest of the team.
Among the squad cast is Adam Hugill, Josh Barrow, and screen newcomer Lewis Shepherd, who are all reprising their respective stage roles as Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford, and Dele Alli.
Danny Jones -
2nd April 2024 
