AN EAST Lancashire-based national group that represents medical and science staff in football has called for decisions on players injured on the pitch to be made by physios and doctors.

The Barrowford-based League Medical Association (LMedA), run by ex-professional football physio and Burnley student Eamonn Salmon, wants players to be thought of more as patients as soon as they are treated on the field.

Mr Salmon, a former physio for Plymouth Argyle and Manchester City before starting LMedA in 2010, was speaking after Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was allowed to remain on the pitch against Everton on Sunday, despite having been knocked out in a challenge late in the second half.

He said: “From my perspective as soon as a player is injured he becomes a patient, rather than a player. It is medical staff who should be making a decision on that player at that point. Managers aren’t medically qualified and they shouldn’t be allowed to intervene, it is a decision to be made by medical staff, once a player is injured it is nothing to do with the manager.

“We need to get the message across to managers, and we will work with the League Managers’ Association to help them understand that.

“After recent events I think it is something that managers will be aware off.” Lloris was treated for concussion on the pitch at Goodison Park on Sunday and looked set to be replaced, but he refused to go off and Tottenham manager André Villas-Boas decided to leave him on.

“It is a difficult situation to be involved in,” said Mr Salmon. “It is a pressurised game and you have fans shouting for the game to go on.

“But it shouldn’t be up to the player to make the decision. In the medical profession patients will often want to do something that isn’t good for them, and sometimes you have to make the decision for them.”