Football fans have been left scratching their heads after seeing a FIFA Women’s World Cup star’s injury treated in bizarre fashion.
In the 94th minute of the 2019 World Cup Final rematch between USA and the Netherlands in Wellington on Thursday, which ended in a 1-1 draw, there was a nasty head clash between Rose Lavelle and Danielle van de Donk.
The latter stayed on the ground for several minutes to receive treatment, but it was her return to the field that got people talking on social media.
Van de Donk, the Dutch midfielder who is in a relationship with Matildas star and Lyon teammate Ellie Carpenter, played the final minutes of the match wearing a black swimming cap on her head, with a commentator referring to it as ‘protective headwear’.
Presumably, it was to stop bleeding from her head.
“Is that a …. Swimming cap?” Canada legend Janine Beckie tweeted.
While not a common occurrence, the swimming cap was used to treat a head injury in last season’s UEFA Men’s Champions League Round of 16 where Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi returned to the field wearing one against Ajax.
Marseille striker Dario Benedetto did similarly in a Ligue 1 clash against Amiens in 2020, too.
This was the reaction from fans online…
