RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- The world players union on Friday accused World Cup organizer FIFA of failing to protect Uruguay midfielder Alvaro Pereira after he played on following a hard blow to the head that he said felt "like the lights went out." Pereira lay motionless after colliding with Raheem Sterlings knee in the 61st minute of Uruguays 2-1 victory on Thursday. Even though he appeared like a punch-drunk boxer, Pereira ultimately was allowed to return in the 63rd minute. The union urged FIFA "to conduct a thorough investigation into its own competition concussion protocol which failed to protect Uruguayan footballer Alvaro Pereira." It asked for "urgent talks and immediate assurances that FIFA can guarantee the safety of the players." It also suggested possible rule changes so players suspected of being concussed can be temporarily substituted while theyre diagnosed. "Football is awash with incidents in which players suffer potentially concussive blows to the head and stay on the pitch. In Pereiras case, he demanded to play on, overruling advice from Uruguays team physician for him to be immediately substituted," FIFPro said in a statement. "FIFPro understands that in certain moments, faced by the pressures of such an important international stage, many players would react in this way. There are times, however, when the players also require greater protection against the prospect of making any rash decisions." As he slid for a ball just outside Uruguays penalty area, Pereiras temple inadvertently struck Sterlings left knee. "After the hit, I only recall that I was unconscious for an instant," he said. "It was like the lights went out a little bit." Teammates surrounding the motionless player signalled for a stretcher. Team medical staff came onto the field. Pereira wobbled to the sideline. Uruguay physician Dr. Alberto Pan signalled for a substitution. Pereira seemed to be having trouble maintaining his balance. He argued and angrily wagged a finger to signal he didnt want to be substituted. "I said sorry a thousand times to the doctor because I was dizzy. It was that moment your adrenaline flowing in your body, maybe without thinking ... what I really wanted to do was to help get the result," the 28-year-old Sao Paulo FC player recalled. "What really matters is that everything is OK. Nothing happened. It was just a scare". Pereira said a team doctor and a FIFA physician checked him after the match. There was no immediate confirmation on whether he sustained a concussion, a subject that is slowly moving up the agenda in the sport. FIFPro said it would monitor Pereiras health on Friday. "He must be subjected to further evaluation and follow-up procedures that help determine if and when he can return to training," it said. The union said it also is considering appointing its own independent doctors "for all future FIFA competitions." "The World Cup must set the standard for player health and safety to educate the international football community. Medical evidence shows that a person faces the risk of very serious brain injury, or worse, if he or she suffers a severe head trauma from a concussive blow," FIFPro said. "Furthermore, FIFPro states any sideline concussion assessment must not be conducted solely by a national team physician. In order to ensure real independence, FIFPros involvement, as the international authority representing the interests of the players, would ensure they are insulated at all times." In the English Premier League, Tottenham came under scrutiny in November for an incident involving goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Currently with the France squad at the World Cup, Lloris was allowed to play on after he was briefly knocked unconscious during a game after colliding with Evertons Romelu Lukaku, despite medical advice he leave the match. . A 19-game winner with the New York Yankees in both 2006 and 2007, Wang spent most of this year at Triple-A for the Yankees and Blue Jays. The 33-year-old right-hander was 1-2 with a 7. . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result.
http://www.cheapjaguarsjerseyssale.com/. -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. . Fabio Fognini pulled off a surprise 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray to level the best-of-five quarterfinal at 2-2 before Andreas Seppi defeated James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive match. .Y. -- The Montreal Canadiens have had few reasons to celebrate this season as they have been mired near the basement of the Eastern Conference.MELBOURNE, Australia - Its only been a couple of months since Kei Nishikori moved into the No. 5 ranking, and hes not yet comfortable with the number.Once success arrived it came quickly for the 25-year-old Japanese player who stands out as one of the games rising stars and one of its most modest.Nishikori spent the latter part of 2014 making history. He became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open and finished the year ranked No. 5, the highest ranking ever achieved by a man from Asia.At this years Australian Open he has powered through the first four rounds to secure a spot in the quarterfinals and has tried to explain on a few occasions what it is about the number five that makes him uneasy.Im really new to be No. 5, so Im still not comfortable, Nishikori told the cheering crowd at Rod Laver Arena on Monday, where Japanese flags were waving during the windy afternoon match as he beat the supremely athletic No. 9-ranked David Ferrer 6-3, 6-3. 6-3.I think I feel more pressure than before, he said earlier in the week, describing the different feeling of being on the pedestal with the worlds best players. I think I need more time to get used to it.Asked on Monday what number he might feel more comfortable with, Nishikori smiled. Maybe like, 15 or 20.There is a disconnect between the confident, aggressive Nishikori fans witness on the court and the self-deprecating person he becomes off the court.When he plays, Nishikori is aggressive, quick and energetic, with leaping forehands and an ability to take the ball early, which adds to his power and gives his opponent less time to react. HHe is also extremely focused, confident and calm.ddddddddddddhats what Im really trying to do, (be) patient always but at the same time aggressive, said Nishikori, who broke into the top five after adding Michael Chang, the 1989 French Open champion, to his coaching team last year.Nishikori is a star in Japan but has been based since age 14 in Florida, where he moved to train at the Nick Bollettieris famed tennis academy.Living in the U.S. makes it easier for Nishikori to escape the limelight, but he says Japan still feels like home.In Florida nobody talks to me, Nishikori said. In Japan ... a lot of people recognize me. Its not easy to walk on the street.I feel more comfortable living in Japan. They have much better food, he smiled. But in Florida, they have great facilities... good players I can train with. They have everything.Maybe after he retires, Nishikori said, he will move back to Japan permanently. Not that retirement is on his mind just yet.On Wednesday, he faces defending champion Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals.It will be a rematch of their U.S. Open quarterfinal which Nishikori won in a gripping five sets before going on to beat No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He has only reached the quarterfinal in Melbourne once before — in 2012 — and followed that with consecutive exits in the fourth round.Wawrinka said he was bracing for another long, tough match against Nishikori.Hes a great shot maker. He can make winners. Hes always taking the ball really early. Its always tough to play against him, said the No. 4-ranked Wawrinka. Well see how Im going to deal with that. ' ' '
