The actions of Joe Hart as defender confirmed to have ‘bad head knock’

Celtic ran out 2-1 winners in an exciting but nervy win over Ross County at Celtic Park. The Scottish Champions were far from their fluid best against a disciplined and organised County. However, Ange Postecoglou’s team managed to find a way to win as they came from behind thanks to goals from David Turnbull and Sead Haksabanovic.

Much of the takeaway from the game was the decision by David Munro to penalise Matt O’Riley for handball and give the Staggies a chance to go ahead, which they took through David Cancola. However, midway through the first half, there was another incident that requires more discussion – the injury of Moritz Jenz.

The German defender started at the heart of the defence alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers; although midway through the first half, he was involved in a head knock with a Ross County attacker and was deemed fine to play on. Following that he was sluggish and Joe Hart was alert to the player’s behaviour.

Hart looked animated as he attempted to shout at the Celtic bench for attention and when the ball died for a Celtic free-kick, he sprint from his own goal to alert the medical staff before telling Jenz to go down. The Celtic medical staff entered the field and brought Jenz with him after deeming him unable to continue. Carl Starfelt replaced him at the back as the game progressed.

Jenz’s partner confirmed that he had taken a ‘bad head knock’ but that the defender was feeling better today.

The protocols in football need to be reviewed and, following recommendations by former Celt Chris Sutton, more needs to be done to protect players from head injuries and the long-term damages associated with them.

Hart was alert and acted in his teammate’s interests yesterday, spotting that there was an issue and alerting the bench. It emphasises, even more, just how big a part of this team the Englishman is.

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About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

7 Comments

  1. While an important incident, I thought the article was going to be about the decision to award Ross County a freekick after their keeper put the ball down and picked it back up again.
    Everyone has been debating the penalty but that decision should see that referee demoted for all eternity.
    While the penalty decision could be debated, there is no excuse at all for what happened in that incident.
    From that point onwards the referee seemed to completely lose the plot.

    • …and allowing a player to stay on the park and join the attack for the traditional long ball “free” free kick into Celtic box, whilst ensuring Giakoumakis after being assaulted with 2 elbows, was removed and he wouldn’t wave him back on ????

  2. It’s a pity the clown of a referee isn’t able to spot this.
    Absolutely and utterly hopeless refereeing.
    Scottish referees do not know the rules of the game and/or are biased.

  3. With lots of respect, ” Fluid” ??? ….do you mean “fluent ” ?? So many people in football recently using this term wrongly. Please check the English Oxford/Collins or other dictionary. Always good to stay ahead of the huns and produce top quality.

  4. What a farse these referees are all turning out to be. David Monroe was a”clown” right from the kick off. We are sitting in the stand, and indentified him almost immediately!! What his agenda is against Celtic I do not know, other than being another student from the ” free mason/ orange order school of referees!! There is no other explanation for such a clown to be let loose at Celtic Park too try and get Celtic beat. Where oh where is the referees supervisor, and it it surely now time for to get reports printed by those ” in charge”. If any of us did our jobs as badly, it would a sacking offence. How these clowns are allowed out at all is a mystery!! Celtic will, I hope keep telling the SFA about these action, and let the fans know what has been said. !! Do not wait until we get beat by one of these “free mason” rules but shout from the rooftops!! Watch how more bigoted they will become, after this break, as they will not like us being nine points in fron, and not a Christmas tree too be seen that. !!! Hail Hail Celts, let’s Finnish the job good and proper after the break. All the very best for your trip ” down under” , and I know the team will make Ange very proud in his homeland. God Bless.

  5. ‘ disciplined and organised County ‘
    Sorry but what game were you at ?
    Jacovetti just a thug, tried to intimidate Kyogo for protesting the unique interpretation of the keeper grounding the ball and picking it back up.
    Fouled, time wasted ( even when drawing ) and an outdated route one. Mackay deserves them