Christian Eriksen collapses on pitch as Denmark vs Ukraine halted | Football | Sport
Denmark vs Ukraine was cancelled (Image: TV)
Christian Eriksen is conscious and ‘doing well’ after collapsing in the friendly between Denmark and Ukraine. The game was cancelled following the medical emergency involving the former Manchester United and Tottenham midfielder.
Players were reportedly left in tears as they huddled around their team-mate as he received treatment, five years on from when he collapsed with a heart issue during Euro 2020. There were calls for blankets to be utilised to offer additional privacy.
Eriksen underwent some treatment on the field before being taken away in an ambulance. The 34-year-old is said to have walked into the ambulance and both teams’ supporters offered applause and cheered Eriksen’s name.
The game was brought to a close after just 65 minutes of play. Denmark were leading the match 2-1 after taking the lead through Patrick Dorgu and Joakim Maehle, before Viktor Tsygankov narrowed the deficit.
Ex-Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner told TV2 that it was: “Absolutely right to cancel the match and not play on.”
The national team doctor, Morten Boesen offered a positive update. “Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch himself. As I see it, the pacemaker gave a shock, as it is supposed to,” he said.
“He was briefly out, but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him. Now he needs to be examined further at the hospital to find out what caused the incident.
“We are continuously in contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well, and he asked me to say hello to all the players and say that he was okay.”
Eriksen’s current club, Wolfsburg said: “We’re thinking of you, Christian. Today’s international match between Denmark and Ukraine had to be abandoned following Christian Eriksen’s collapse.
“According to the Danish Football Association, Christian is conscious and doing well given the circumstances. He has been taken to Odense University Hospital, where further examinations will follow. We are in close contact with the Danish Football Association and are following further developments. All the best and a speedy recovery, Christian.”
Ukraine’s Association of Football said on Instagram: “We are all with you Christian Eriksen”
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Christian Eriksen was shielded by players from both teams (Image: DAZN)
Norwegian football manager Kjetil Rekdal expressed his distress to broadcaster VG, following the troubling scenes. “It’s horrible,” he said. “You don’t think things like that can happen out on a football field. There are signs that something is not right, so we have to cross our fingers that it goes well this time too.”
Manchester United were reassured over their former player’s condition after the updates following the game. “Everybody at Manchester United is encouraged by Denmark’s update on Christian Eriksen following today’s abandoned friendly against Ukraine,” they said.
“The club is sending strength and love to Christian and the Eriksen family as we await further news.”
In a game against Finland in 2021, Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during a match. He received life-saving treatment and was resuscitated on the field on that occasion as the football world waited with baited breath following traumatic scenes.
Following that, Eriksen was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device that works to restore a regular heart rhythm and managed to return to the field. Eriksen signed for Brentford to restart his career in February 2022, having not been allowed to play for Inter Milan in Italy with his ICD device.
Since then, the veteran has continued his career at Manchester United and Wolfsburg, while taking his tally of international caps beyond 150.
