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D.C. United's Steve Birnbaum was stretchered off the field in injury time of his team's 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls. It is never a pleasing sight to see a player forced out of the game, particularly due to injury and especially on a stretcher.
Initial reports from D.C. United were encouraging - in the sense at least that the player's condition was not perceived to be critical and his trip to hospital was characterized as a precaution rather than necessity. Now the club has announced Birnbaum has a concussion: not an insignificant injury and one from which it can take some time to recover.
Update: Tests are negative. Steve does have a concussion & will enter concussion protocol.
— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 16, 2017
Thanks fans for your best wishes for our Captain https://t.co/wsuSfCG7DF
Once A Metro wishes Steve Birnbaum a swift and full recovery from his injury.