HUNGARY striker Barnabas Varga has undergone surgery after suffering a horrific facial injury against Scotland on Sunday.
Varga was knocked unconscious after colliding with Angus Gunn in the second half of the Euro 2024 group stage match.
He required immediate medical attention, with doctors and paramedics sent straight onto the pitch.
The 29-year-old’s team-mates quickly shielded him with a screen before he was carried off on a stretcher and rushed to hospital.
Varga’s father, Andras, has now confirmed that his son underwent successful surgery in Stuttgart this morning.
He told Hungarian Newspaper Nemzeti Sport: “Together with my wife, we are waiting for the news that Barni’s sweetheart will send us.
“The operation has been performed, Barni’s sweetheart will provide information on our child’s condition every minute if necessary.
“It is not yet known when he will be released from the hospital in Stuttgart, nor how long he will miss.
“It’s no secret, the family went through difficult moments in front of the television screen, but now we can be calmer.”
After the match, the Hungarian FA confirmed that Varga had broken “several bones” in his face.
BARBABAS VARGA has enjoyed a meteoric rise from semi-pro leagues of Austria and Hungary to the Euro 2024 finals.
The Hungary striker played for six seasons, between 2010 and 2016 for SV Eberau in the Bergenlandliga – the regional fourth tier of Austrian football.
A record of over a goal every other game earned Varga a shot at the big time with with SV Mattersburg in the Austrian Bundesliga.
However, he scored only once in just 16 games over the next three seasons before dropping down to the second tier with SV Lafnitz.
After a mixed spell, Varga’s next step was to his homeland, again in the second tier, with Gyirnot in 2020.
That’s where it began to click for Varga and his eye for goal saw top division Paksi FC swoop.
Varga scored almost a goal a game in his first season with Paksi, finishing as the top scorer in the Hungarian league.
That earned the late bloomer an international debut, at the age of 28, in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Bulgaria.
One his third cap, away to Serbia, he netted his first Hungary goal.
Last summer, Varga joined Hungarian giants Ferencvaros and again got the golden boot as his side won the league, the first silverware of his career.
He will now miss the remainder of the tournament due to the severity of his injury.
Hungary players were left furious when some medics appeared to walk onto the pitch in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Captain Dominik Szoboszlai, who was one of the first players to assist Varga when he was knocked unconscious, now believes Uefa should make a change to ensure players in a similar situation receive treatment as quickly as possible.
At full-time, the Liverpool star said: “It looked bad, it was bad, it felt bad.
“I don’t really know the protocols or how it works, but if our doctors say we need someone immediately to help, then I don’t think they should walk.
“It’s not my decision, but I think we need to change something.
“Even if someone is on the ground, and you know that it was a big collision, then just go on [the pitch].
“Even if the referee is saying don’t go on, just go on. And if you can see it’s nothing serious, then you can just go down and it’s finished. But seconds can help a lot.”
However, in a statement UEFA insisted that all guidance was followed.
The statement read: “With regards to the medical intervention following the head injury suffered by Barnabas Varga of Hungary, we would like to clarify that the intervention of the team doctor happened within 15 seconds of the incident, followed immediately by the second stadium doctor, to conduct a first assessment of the injury and provide appropriate treatment, as per customary medical procedures.
“The qualified pitchside emergency team were waiting pitchside, according to their protocol, and arrived with the stretcher as soon as their intervention was requested by the medics to evacuate the player for his immediate transfer to hospital.
“The coordination between all the medical staff on site was professional and everything was done in accordance with the applicable medical procedures. There was no delay in the treatment of and assistance to the player.”
Discussing the horrific incident, Hungary boss Marco Rossi said: “I’m not sure if it was a collision with the goalkeeper, it was a confused situation, that’s why the VAR was checking.
“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.
“Thankfully he is not under risk, he will be operated on here (points to cheek). He’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing. If we go through, he is no longer part of the team.”
Gergely Panics, Varga’s doctor, has revealed the striker will hopefully be discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
He explained: “Barni suffered a concussion during the collision and lost consciousness.’ Panics revealed.
“By the time he reached the ambulance, he had already regained consciousness, after which he was taken to the clinic in Stuttgart, where, after the examination, a therapeutic plan was drawn up, according to which he would be operated on.
“Our striker suffered multiple facial skull fractures, several smaller and larger bones were broken in his face, and some were even dislocated.
“After the operation, he will be kept in for two days. If everything goes well, he will be released on Wednesday.”
Hungary won the match against Scotland 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Kevin Csoboth.
They subsequently finished third in Group A while the Tartan Army crashed out of the tournament.
