It was the accident waiting to happen. The accident entirely preventable. The accident everyone in football could see coming yet were seemingly powerless to prevent.
As Rui Patricio lay stricken on the pitch, the medics in attendance, the minutes ticking by, it was, we can only hope, nothing more significant than a teachable moment.
This is what happens if football people — players and coaches — are removed from football. This is what happens if the rule-makers rule unopposed. The delayed flag is an innovation that works well with VAR, that sits sweetly with football’s new normal and is no doubt considered a roaring success in the offices of FIFA and beyond.