Hungary star stretchered off after sickening collision during Scotland match

Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was left in tears after seeing Barnabas Varga suffer a serious injury after a sickening collision with Scotland keeper Angus Gunn.

Varga was injured as a free-kick was swung into the Scotland box, with Gunn jumping over the top of him. The Hungary star appeared to smash into Gunn’s arm and was left stricken on the ground.

The referee immediately stopped the game, with medical staff being rushed onto the pitch by Hungary’s players. After being put in the recovery position by his team-mates, a screen was erected around Varga while he received treatment.

Hungary’s players also rushed to hurry up the stretcher bearers as they walked onto the pitch, with Varga cleary in distress. The incident left the Hungary squad in understandable upset, with captain Szoboszlai pictured in tears.

After a six-minute delay, Varga was stretchered off the pitch, with the crowd at the Stuttgart Arena rising as one to applaud him off. The host broadcaster allowed one replay of the incident to be shown, with VAR also checking for a potential penalty against Gunn.

That check was cleared though, with the game remaining goalless. Former Scotland international Pat Nevin defended Gunn for racing off his line, insisting the collision was totally accidental.

He told BBC 5 Live: “We have seen it before if a keeper comes out and he doesn’t get the ball but takes a player it is a foul. I actually think Angus Gunn got some of the ball there.”

Messages of support for Varga flooded in on social media while his team struggled to break down Scotland. Varga had played a substantial role in both of Hungary’s previous two group games.

He played all 90 minutes in the opening round defeat to Switzerland, before featuring for 87 minutes as his side lost to Germany. They entered Sunday’s game needing to win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16.

Varga started his career at Austrian Bundesliga side Lafnitz, before joining Hungarian side Gyirmot in 2019. He scored 29 goals in 60 games, earning a move to Paks, where he continued his fine scoring record by notching 29 in just 33 matches.

That record saw him signed by Hungarian giants Ferencvárosi. The 29-year-old scored 29 goals in 40 appearances to fire his side to the Hungarian title and earn a place in his country’s squad for the Euros.

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