Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen did not suffer a concussion during Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax, the club have said.
The Belgium international suffered a sickening head injury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and - after briefly trying to return to action - retched on the side of the pitch and had to be helped down the tunnel, barely able to walk unaided.
The decision to allow Vertonghen to come back on sparked a debate about concussion protocol.
Referee Miguel Mateu Lahoz sought clarity from the Spurs medical staff that Vertonghen was fit to continue and following a discussion on the sideline, allowed the player to continue.
However, within a minute, a somewhat dazed looking Vertonghen signalled his need to come off, became very unsteady on his feet and had to be helped down the tunnel by the medics.
But a review by medical staff and independent neurologist concluded that he did not suffer a concussion.
A statement read: "Following a thorough review over the past 48 hours by our medical staff as well as by an independent neurologist with special interest in sport-related concussion today, it has been concluded that Jan Vertonghen did not suffer a concussion during Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax."
Speaking to Tony O'Donoghue on the RTÉ Soccer Social on Facebook Live, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said he always left such decisions with the club doctors.
"It's not my decision. It's the doctor's decision. The club doctors said it was possible for him to keep going.
"But after a few seconds, he asked to go off. In this type of situation, I'm clear that the decision is with the doctor."
