Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton says he has no memory of 2025 FA Cup final after concussion | OneFootball

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton says he has no memory of last season’s FA Cup final and played on with concussion, repeatedly unaware of the score.

Eberechi Eze put Palace ahead after 16 minutes and Dean Henderson saved a first half penalty from Omar Marmoush. After 73 minutes Kevin De Bruyne’s shot struck Wharton on the back of the head. He was checked, continued until the 87th minute when Will Hughes replaced him, and later missed celebrations after hospital checks as Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley in May 2025.

“I’ve watched a million clips back and I sort of know what happened, but there’s no memory or recollection of the game. I vaguely remember Ebs scoring and Dean saving the penalty, but everything else is missing,” he told Scouted magazine.

“A period of 10-15 minutes off the pitch, in the quiet confines of a treatment room or changing room, would give team medics a better opportunity to identify emerging signs of concussion and prevent players who have injured their brains from taking additional risks while being monitored from afar as they continue playing,” said Headway chief executive Luke Griggs to The Athletic.

“Football has to do more to educate everyone involved in the game to take an ‘if in doubt, sit it out’ approach to head injuries.”

Palace are aiming to follow that first major trophy by winning this season’s Conference League, facing Rayo Vallecano in the final on 27 May in Leipzig.

Source: NY Times