Soccer-Masked World Cup players spotlight soccer's overlooked facial injury risk

AI Summary

Soccer players face significant risks of facial injuries such as broken noses that often go unnoticed compared to concussions or ligament tears. Protective masks help players continue competing despite ongoing respiratory difficulties after injury.

BEVERLY HILLS, California, July 11 (Reuters) - When soccer players collide in midair, the toll is not always counted in concussions, torn ligaments or twisted ankles. Sometimes it is a broken nose - a burst of blood, a few minutes of treatment on the touchline, perhaps a protective mask and a swift return to ‌play - that becomes the lasting injury, leaving an athlete struggling to breathe long after the match is over.