While playing against Iran on Morocco's opening game at the World Cup, Moroccan winger Nordin Amrabat was slapped by the Atlas Lions' physio after he felt dizzy.
The 31-year-old international footballer was confused and dazed after he fell on the floor trying to keep the ball. Morocco's medical team rushed to check on Amrabat who was unable to stand still.
I dont think this physio knew exactly what to do.... #WorldCupRussia2018 #WorldCup #Morocco #Iran #physio pic.twitter.com/pBiPWGXQ5O
— Josh Hall (@josh99hall) June 15, 2018
But strangely, the team sprayed his face with water and gave him a couple of slaps on the cheeks.
Morocco’s Amrabat knocked clean out and all the physio did was slap him round the face a few times. Can only compare that to when an old tv used to konk out and you’d bang it till it worked again. #WorldCup
— Will Holderness (@WillHolderness) June 15, 2018
The clip showing the incident went viral on the internet, as social media users questioned the weird yet not very smart way in which the medical team handled the situation.
Amrabat was immediately taken out from the field for a check up and his brother Sofyan Amrabat joined the team for the rest of the game.
Fans were, however, worried about the young Dutch-born player, pointing at the slaps he took on the face earlier this day.
#Morocco please arrange to sent your physio team back home. How on earth do you splash water and slap a player who's suffered concussion in the name of treating him. I guess you wanted him 'dead'. That was so embarassing!
— felix owino (@Felixowino73) June 15, 2018
Responding to Amrabat's worried fans, President of the Moroccan Royal Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa told Medi1TV that the footballer is «safe and sound» and that he was taken to a «clinic in Saint Petersburg where he had a check up».
Amrabat is expected to spend the night there, Lekjaa told the TV channel, stressing that after «24 hours, he will be able to join the Atlas Lions».
For the record, Morocco was defeated (1-0) Friday, 15th of June, by the Iranian team after an own goal. The team is expected to face Portugal on the 20th of the same month in Russia.