Michael Laudrup: 'When Michu is down, the referee is watching but still lets the game go on'

Michael Laudrup, the Swansea City manager, launched an outspoken attack on referee Mike Dean for failing to stop play in injury time at the end of his team's 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane when it appeared that striker Michu could have been knocked unconscious.

There was uproar on the Swansea bench as play continued despite the fact that the Spanish striker was lying prone on his back following a collision with Tottenham Hotspur's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, with players from both sides frantically calling for medical attention. The Spurs substitute, Andros Townsend, continued his run at goal, seemingly unaware of what was taking place behind him.

Laudrup said that the collision had reminded him of the one between West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher and France defender Patrick Battiston in 1982 that left the latter with a broken neck and was disbelieving that the referee did not take action. Michu later recovered and finished the game.

Laudrup said: "I was very angry, I did not want a free-kick or red card for Lloris or anything. We always talk about if a player is out, should we kick the ball out? Sometimes teams say, 'We have a referee and linesman and we go on until they whistle'.

"But when possible head injuries happen like this one there is no doubts [the game should be stopped]. The referee or the linesman, they are connected [via headset]. I watched after on the computer. When Michu goes down the referee and linesman are watching them and still they let the game go on.

"I would like an explanation. I just want the game stopped and, if it was an opponent, I would say the same. If someone goes down with a hamstring injury we continue until the ball goes out and then we carry him off because it is not dangerous. But when two players go up for a header and they both go down there is nothing to discuss, you have to whistle and stop the game.

"In the beginning, I think some of the Tottenham bench thought we wanted a red card or penalty. That was not the issue, we just wanted to stop the game. But he waited and waited, they had a counter-attack and I said I don't care if they score the second goal, I just want the game stopped."

He added: "When I saw him [Michu] like this I said, 'hell, he's unconscious or whatever'. You can't fake a reaction like that. It's not like somebody kicks you, watching the referee, it's completely different.

"I really am [surprised the referee did not act]. We're talking about the way he went down, I still remember in 1982, Battiston and he was lying with his finger up like that. I really would like to hear the explanation from the referee and the linesman. I want referees and linesmen to do the same as players and managers and learn from their mistakes."

Andre Villas-Boas, the Tottenham manager, said that Dean "had to stop the game". He added: "As Townsend was moving in one direction, Mike was moving in Michu's direction and trying to direct the play. It was a difficult decision for him and I think he had a good game but, in that split-second, he has to make a decision.

"Obviously, Swansea players were angry about the situation and Townsend just kept running. To be fair, we jumped straight away from the bench to try to get it stopped."