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Oliver Walton

Thu 14 August 2025 10:59, UK

PGMOL insider Keith Hackett has called the decision to abandon Man United Under 21’s clash against Tamworth on Wednesday (13 August) into question after a Red Devils player suffered a head injury.

Head injuries have become a huge talking point in today’s game, with referees at all levels now being told to immediately pause proceedings and call for medical attention if a player goes down holding his head after a clash.

The seriousness of potential blows to a player’s head has increased tenfold in recent times, and referee Ross Martin saw fit to abandon Man United U21’s National League Cup tie against Tamworth on Wednesday after Red Devils man Sekou Kone had to go off on a stretcher.

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Martin did not give a reason for the game being called-off at the time, and it is unclear whether he felt the game needed to stop due to the seriousness of the midfielder’s problem, or other factors such as a lack of medical staff able to give treatment if another player was injured.

This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official, and former professional referee Keith Hackett.

United’s youth side travelled to Tamworth on Wednesday for their opening clash of the 2025/26 National League Cup, which sees non-league teams pitted against some of the country’s best U21 players.

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The tie was locked at 0-0 in the 42nd minute when 19-year-old midfielder Kone leaped to attack the ball from a corner but was accidentally caught by his opponent mid-air and sent crashing to the surface.

Kone immediately lay still on the ground as medical staff rushed to his aid, and he did soon try to stand up but then went back to ground as he went on to be stretchered off the field and given treatment in an ambulance.

Referee Ross Martin blew for half-time while he was still receiving treatment, and then chose to abandon the game before the restart due to the severity of the injury.

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Man United later tweeted an update on Kone’s condition, saying: “Sekou is conscious, stable and communicating with United’s medical team.

He has been taken to hospital as a precaution for further checks.”

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former FIFA official indicated his confusion at the referee’s choice to abandon proceedings after the injury had been suffered, citing a potential issue with the amount of medical staff, and insisted that he would have kept the game on to see it come to an end on the night.

“In a game of football which is a contact sport and played at high speeds you will encounter injuries in your refereeing career,” Hackett told Football Insider.

“In this situation it is evident that the medical team on hand dealt swiftly with the player who sustained a serious head injury.

The teams have substitutes and therefore replacement players available.

“The referee needs to take into account that spectators have travelled to the game and want to see it come to a conclusion.

“As the match referee I would therefore want to bring the game to a satisfactory conclusion and complete the 90 plus minutes.

“I can only suspect that the match was abandoned following discussions between the referee and the officials of both clubs.

“I suspect that the medical staff treating the player would not have been available if the game was re-started, however, usually in these circumstances the opposition’s medical team can cover any shortfall.”

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