FA regrets TikTok footage of Stockport player’s head injury, according to Macauley Southam-Hales
The Football Association issued an apology after a video mocking Macauley Southam-Hales’ head-first crash with an advertisement board was uploaded to the FA Cup TikTok account.
The word “crunch” was timed to impact in the now-deleted video, which was synced to music.
After the incident, the 26-year-old full-back for Stockport County was transported to the hospital but later released after a CT scan.
According to an FA representative, the footage shouldn’t have ever been made public.
The FA stated, “We will evaluate our procedures to ensure this never happens again. The post was made by an external agency.”
The incident happened during Stockport’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Charlton on Wednesday.
That’s Why I Love Nestle Crunch was the subject of the TikTok video, and Southam-Hales’ hit with the hoarding was accompanied by a thud and screaming noises.
Stockport provided an update on Thursday, stating that Southam-Hales had undergone scans that had revealed no evidence of long-term harm despite head swelling and despite his use of a neck brace.
Brain injury organizations denounce the offensive video
The film, according to Luke Griggs, CEO of the brain injury charity Headway, demonstrated to the FA the importance of paying closer attention to brain health.
To distribute a video that makes light of someone who has suffered a head injury is, quite frankly, beyond belief, he continued. “We are dumbfounded after viewing the abominable movie posted on TikTok by the FA,” he said.
“Younger generations, many of whom will look up to the example set by the FA, predominantly utilize TikTok. What kids will learn from this ploy is that sporting brain injuries are hilarious and not anything to be concerned about.
This careless post runs the risk of undermining all the effort that has been put into spreading knowledge about brain health. We can see that much work needs to be done before the FA starts taking brain health seriously.”
The incident happened one month after Alex Fletcher of Bath City underwent brain surgery as a result of colliding with a hoarding.
Following the incidents involving Fletcher and Southam-Hales, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) stated that it was “seeking guarantees” about player safety.
“It’s not the first time this season that players have suffered serious injuries after running into boards or fences around the field.
A PFA representative said, “We were all startled by the event with Alex Fletcher at Bath last month and we’re glad that he’s now been freed from hospital.”
“We’ll be getting in touch with the appropriate authorities to get confirmation that these occurrences are fully being investigated and that sufficient attention is being given to whether safety laws need to be amended or enhanced.
At all stages of the game, player safety must be given the utmost priority.
