70 ...... Saturday, December 5, 2020 1GM 1GM Saturday, December 5, 2020 ...... 71

HORRIFIC . . . Raul Jimenez comes off worse in collision with David Luiz EXCLUSIVEEXCLUSIVEPETRPETR CECHCECH ONON THETHE DEMENTIADEMENTIA DEBATEDEBATE

BETWEEN THE STICKS . . . By JUSTIN GAME CHANGER . . . former goalkeeper Cech has Cech’s injury prompted been drumming since his 20s ALLEN a player safety overhaul GUARDIOLA . . . focus PETR CECH almost lost his life after fracturing his skull during a Porto in match 14 years ago. The keeper wore a rugby scrum cap (below) as a safety the s**t measure for the remainder of his career with Chelsea and NUNO BACKS Arsenal. with Uefa So he knows all about the dangers Banging of head injuries in football. EXCLUSIVE by Big-hearted Cech, 38, is also rais- MARTIN BLACKBURN ing funds for a dementia charity. As a keen drummer, he has collided with Reading’s Stephen played on until half-time before PORTO’S top brass RAUL RETURN teamed up with Wycombe boss Hunt at the Madejski Stadium. being replaced as blood was still allegedly called match NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO is By GRAHAM HILL and vocalist Gareth Ainsworth to The incident in October 2006 gushing from his head. officials ‘s**t-eaters’ after cautiously optimistic that make a Christmas record to help a prompted the football authorities to Cech said: “It works brilliantly in Raul Jimenez will play pro is that he recovers totally. their Euro clash at cause close to their hearts. bring in safer protocols to deal with ice hockey. I know they have rolling City. football again. Raul was really well taken But one thing is clear — Cech is players who suffer head injuries. subs but if you get concussed you go care of on the pitch and not in favour of banning heading, Directors from the Wolves’ Mexican striker And the Czech legend believes off for assessment and get replaced. Portuguese club made fractured his skull in an in the ambulance. especially for kids. that, as a result of his own horror “It takes all the pressure off the “Now he is recovering, This year football has lost England moment, players such as Jimenez, manager and doctor. their way down to the awful clash of heads with tunnel area at the Etihad Arsenal’s David Luiz at the he’s going back home, 1966 World Cup winners Jack Charl- Fabrice Muamba and Ryan Mason “The doctor cannot properly assess ton and Nobby Stiles to dementia. had their lives saved. if a footballer is OK in a few following their 3-1 defeat Emirates last Sunday. although we are not on October 21. allowed to visit him. The FA recently banned children Bolton’s Muamba had a cardiac moments, while a manager should Jimenez was immediately under the age of 11 from heading arrest in an FA Cup game at Spurs not have to see his team down to And they hurled abuse taken to hospital, and an “Everything goes through balls in training and there have even in March 2012, while Mason suffered ten men while checks are made. at ref Andris Treimanis update from Wolves on your mind when you see been calls to outlaw the practice in a fractured skull after a collision “There are now concussion tests and his assistants over Thursday said the player someone who you love in the game, full stop. with Blues defender Gary Cahill in you can do as a player on a com- their performance in the was recovering well. a tough situation. Just last Sunday, Wolves star Raul January 2017. puter and a doctor can usually make stormy Champions League Ahead of tomorrow’s “You’re worried because Jimenez fractured his skull in a Cech, 38, said: “One of the a decision within ten minutes.” clash. game at Liverpool, Wolves he means so much to us, the drum sickening clash of heads with characteristics of us humans is we Cech — who started drumming The shocking outburst boss Nuno added: “If you it’s like someone in the Arsenal’s David Luiz. always have to wait for a when he was in his late 20s was heard by Uefa ask me personally, I want family being ill. Raul is But Cech said: “We can’t take disaster to strike before — was invited to play on delegates who were stood him and I am positive he’s huge, what he means off things like heading out of football we’re more attentive to London Country, the because it wouldn’t be the same things. latest album by Wills within earshot — and is going to come back. the pitch, as a team-mate believed to have been and for the city.” game. That’s not the way forward. “When I had my & The Willing. “Now our real concern “There should be guidelines as to head injury, there And he plays recorded in the official what is too much and what isn’t in were no paramedics drums on a jolly game report. training. or ambulances as a record called Draw- It is one of the incidents “In football, there are players who compulsory part of ing Straws with from the two matches have a great heading technique but football. Ainsworth that they between the clubs this there are some that don’t and that’s “It’s all changed hope can top the autumn which could yet also risky. since, as now you Christmas charts.

The land Porto in hot water. ANALYST “If you don’t teach a kid how to have that and all The song is about Another is the ‘news- DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM ON HEAD INJURIES head the ball in training, they can the equipment inside Santa Claus telling letter’ released to the FROM a player’s point of view, when you are make contact with it at the wrong the stadium that is his nine reindeer Portuguese media by the angle or timing and can get a needed to deal with that only five of them club on the morning after being assessed for a head injury, you don’t want serious injury from that. A player that type of moment. can head out with to go off. Tuesday’s goalless draw. can concuss themselves. “That helped save the him because of the It effectively called City A couple of times it happened to me, where it was “You have to remember children life of Muamba, Raul and coronavirus rule of six. proven afterwards I had been concussed because I use a smaller and lighter ball — and Mason. Cech added: “Our director of midfielder Bernardo Silva for safe racist, while also claiming was violently sick the next day. it’s not flying past them with as “They had people at the stadium football operations, David Barnard, I was asked the question on both occasions much power. who could treat them right away. loves his music and knew Gareth Fernandinho’s post-match whether I felt OK and I said I was fine and wanted “If they get into a good habit of “With head injuries, we’re going in well because he signed him at Wim- comments showed that to carry on, knowing full well I wasn’t 100 per cent. heading, when they move up the age the right direction. bledon from Port Vale. “money in football counts I was dizzy but, as a player, it is very difficult to groups and the ball is travelling at “We’ve come a long way since a “He showed me how he performed for a lot — but doesn’t say ‘I need to come off’. 60mph, it won’t hurt them because doctor would take one look at you The Wanderer in front of the buy class”. In those situations, it has to be taken they know how to do it. and ask, ‘Can you see the ball OK?’ Wycombe fans. City were furious and out of the player’s hands. “And also just the practice of and that was it. You played on.” “It was great to get him on board issued a strong statement In one game when I said I jumping is important. Cech is delighted that next month’s and make it more of a football theme. of their own, which would carry on, I had no “If a young footballer doesn’t FA Cup third round will trial con- “It’s a really catchy tune. We’ve highlighted Porto being I once recollection of the rest of the perfect the art of heading from the cussion subs. done it to put smiles on people’s punished for the racist game. ages of, say, six to 11, when they’re Players who suffer concussion can faces after a tough year and make behaviour of their own played on On another occasion, I 12 there’s a risk of them seeing a be replaced temporarily while they some money for great causes.” fans after a game against was playing for Manchester ball ready to head but they don’t are being properly checked over by Ainsworth, who fronts a band them in 2012. United against Aston Villa jump correctly and there’s a clash of a doctor. called The Cold Blooded Hearts, and couldn't heads. That’s also dangerous.” Their importance was brought into said: “Petr is a seriously good drum- Uefa could also take a in the League Cup in 1999. dim view of it as they I got hit really hard and Cech, who is now Chelsea’s sharp focus during Arsenal’s game mer. We had a lot of fun making it remember was caught in the temple technical chief, was lucky after he with Wolves last weekend. Luiz and hope it makes people smile.” say there is an obligation and it knocked me sideways. for clubs to comply with the match I turned around to our principles of ethical keeper, Mark Bosnich, and had heading conduct, loyalty, integrity to ask him what the score was. He and sportsmanship. signalled to the physio and he had none of it and You Petr watch out, Petr not cry Porto also appear to took me off. have broken European There should be talks into having concussion subs, Club Association rules, or temporary subs. IT’S been a year most of us JUSTIN ALLEN reviewed records for the East Kent Mercury. Here, although a punishment The medical team need to be given the time to want to forget — but this song he dusts off his headphones for Drawing Straws by Wills & The from them is less likely. understand whether a player is concussed or not, makes you proud to be British. Willing, featuring Petr Cech and Gareth Ainsworth (right). City boss Pep Guardiola rather than potentially forcing someone to play on. ..AND MAKING MUSIC From Sir Captain Tom Moore was believed to be It isn’t necessarily the initial concussion or bang to England ace catchy chorus about Santa boss Ainsworth remains the only taking out five reindeer game’s true rock star. unhappy at some of that will have the effect, it will be the next collision Marcus Rashford, Porto’s antics but chose in the same game that leads to the serious issues. this tune captures because of the rule of six. Downloads are available from If you take players away into the dressing room, Friday — and it helps raise to keep his views to the most uplifting Cech’s hands work as fast himself yesterday. without the pressure of the fans and the game, you moments of 2020. as he used to save shots on money for a great cause. may actually get players admitting more frequently, l YOU can listen to the song at Asked about the Porto ‘I’m not feeling great, I need to come off’. There’s even a the drums — and Wycombe thesun.co.uk/football newsletter, he said: “I’m TO RAISE CHARITY CASH focused on Fulham — that The powers that be need to come up with some- thing that gives greater observation and care. is the important thing.”