China footballer Li Shuai needs 7 teeth removed after sickening clash of heads in Malaysia match
- Shanghai Port player also suffers concussion and cervical spine injury after collision with Malaysian player in international friendly
- ‘The good thing is he is not seriously injured and is much better. We hope that he will recover as soon as possible,’ head coach Jankovic says
China defender Li Shuai will need seven teeth removed after a sickening clash of heads in the men’s national team’s 1-1 draw against Malaysia last Saturday.
The 28-year-old left back had to be removed from the pitch in an ambulance late in the second half at the Chengdu Phoenix Hill Sport Park Stadium.
Li, who plays for Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League, collided with Malaysian substitute Syahmi Safari in the 83rd minute after both went up to head the ball.
Both players stayed down on the pitch, but while Safari was still seen moving around, Li was knocked unconscious, according to a statement from his club.
The game was halted for several minutes while medical staff put Li in a neck brace. He was then loaded onto a stretcher and put into the back of an ambulance on the pitch, before being rushed to local hospital.
The club added that Li underwent an MRI examination, after which doctors determined he had suffered a concussion, a cervical spine injury, and severe root damage to multiple teeth.