Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The National Women’s Soccer League said Wednesday it was reviewing rules surrounding medical emergencies after criticism of the decision to carry on playing last week’s game between Angel City and the Utah Royals following the collapse of defender Savy King. Angel City’s King, 20, underwent heart surgery on Tuesday, days after being carried off the field at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles last Friday following a sudden collapse in the 74th minute.
Although players from both sides were visibly distressed, the teams completed the fixture after the incident, a move that several commentators have criticized. The NWSL said in a statement on Saturday that match officials had followed correct protocols. However, the league said on Wednesday that it was now reviewing the incident. “Player safety is paramount to the NWSL,” the league said. “The seriousness of this incident requires a deliberate process that is careful and methodical. That process is underway, and will include necessary revisions that prioritize the consideration of player, staff and fan well-being.”
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US international Trinity Rodman was among the players who criticized the decision to carry on playing after King was carried off the field. “In no world should that game have continued,” Rodman wrote on social media. The NWSL Players Association on Wednesday called for a new rule mandating the abandonment of any future game where a player is given life-saving medical treatment.
“These moments demand humanity, sound judgment, and restraint,” the NWSLPA said. “Any medical emergency that requires the administration of life-saving care should bring play to an end. The match should not have continued. Incidents of this severity must prioritize our collective humanity and should automatically trigger suspension of the match. The Players Association is committed to making this the standard in NWSL.”
“Our members are elite, world-class competitors who have proven they can perform under unimaginable conditions. That does not mean they should have to.”
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