Soccer: Hendry under attack from visiting skipper

San Marino captain Luca Gobbi has called on Fifa to investigate the incident that left team-mate Nicola Albani in hospital.

The young player was caught in the throat by Scotland skipper Colin Hendry's elbow and collapsed on the turf just seconds after replacing Simone Della Balda in the last minute of the 4-0 loss at Hampden Park.

Gobbi - who works in a hospital as a physiotherapist - tried to prise Albani's mouth open after noticing he had appeared to swallow his tongue.

The Cattolica player immediately received treatment before being stretchered off the park and taken to a Glasgow hospital.

Hendry claimed he was trying to shrug Albani off but Gobbi, who was standing nearest to the San Marino player, wants to see Fifa taking a closer look at the incident.

He said: "I hope they do. I have never seen anything like that in football before. I have seen contact but not like that.

"The Scottish player was very angry because he wanted to score but for us it was very difficult.

"I have just spoken to the other players and they are very cross because this is one of your friends, you spend a lot of time with him, you train with him. Now he is in the hospital."

Hendry was honoured before the game for picking up his 50th cap for Scotland against Belgium at the weekend.

And he gave the Scots the best possible start when he fired home two superb goals in the first half, before Billy Dodds and Colin Cameron secured the three points.

But Gobbi claims the rest of the San Marino side feared for the safety of student Albani - souring what was otherwise a magnificent performance by Hendry.

Gobbi added: "I asked the doctor and he told me that he lost consciousness for one minute and the whole team were very, very worried.

"It is the first time that we got him to play because he is very young.

"He tried to make normal contact and the team didn't realise what had happened.

"He lost his sense, which is very dangerous, and I called the doctor and told the other players to stop the play.

"I am very sad about what happened and I am trying to be diplomatic but I like fair play because San Marino aren't professionals - he is the professional player and must set the example for us."