Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Lazio hit out at Netherlands doctors over Stefan De Vrij injury

Lazio have slammed the Dutch Football Association for fielding defender Stefan De Vrij in Netherlands' Euro 2016 qualifying defeat to Turkey, even though he was carrying a knee injury.

De Vrij, 23, will almost certainly miss the Biancocelesti's clash with Udinese at the weekend, while he is also a doubt for their Europa League debut at Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk next Thursday.

And his club are pointing the finger at the Dutch doctors for letting him play in the 3-0 loss at the weekend.

"There's a clear inflammation, also because he played in conditions which probably were not suitable for playing in that game," the club's orthopaedic doctor Stefano Lovati told Lazio Style Radio. "We're now starting with some conservative therapy, but it's very much touch and go for Sunday.

"Next week, we will do further tests. Fortunately he's feeling better compared to yesterday, but we've got to be very careful because the external part of the knee is one of the most delicate areas."

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the player picked up the injury in Netherlands' 1-0 defeat to Iceland last Thursday and notified the national team's doctors.

"The doctors told me there was a build-up of liquid," said the Lazio defender, who believes he was carrying the knock even before playing for his country.

"I picked up an injury in the summer and, without any preparation, I played six games in just over two weeks."

^ Back to Top ^