Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen has been taken to a hospital after collapsing on the field during his side’s Euro 2020 match against Finland in Copenhagen.
Key points:
- Christian Eriksen collapsed in the 43rd minute of Denmarks opening Euro 2020 match against Finland
- Eriksen was treated on the pitch and was conscious when he was taken to hospital
- The match continued after players from both teams agreed to play
Eriksen was given urgent medical attention on the field near the end of the first half, as worried players and spectators watched on.
He was treated for about 10 minutes after collapsing while a stadium announcer asked fans to stay in their seats and stay calm.
He was then carried off on a stretcher, with photos showing he was awake.
Officials said Eriksen has been stabilised and the Danish football federation said he was awake.
AP: Friedemann Vogel
)“Christian Eriksen is awake and is undergoing further examinations at Rigshospitalet,” the Danish federation wrote on Twitter.
UEFA said the match would resume after requests were made from players of both teams.
“We have been in contact with him and the players have spoken to Christian,” said Peter Moller of the Danish Football Association.
“He is doing well and they are playing the match for Christian,” Moller said.
Eriksen had just played a short pass when he fell face-forward onto the ground. His teammates immediately gestured for help and medics rushed onto the field.
He was given chest compressions as his Denmark teammates stood around him in a shielding wall for privacy.
AP: Wolfgang Rattay
)The Finland players huddled by their bench and eventually walked off the field while Eriksen was still getting treatment, as did the referees.
Eriksen’s wife, Sabrina, went onto the field and was comforted by Denmark captain Simon Kjaer and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
AP: Friedemann Vogel
)Eriksen was eventually carried off to a loud ovation, with his teammates walking next to the stretcher.
The game had been halted in the 43rd minute with the score 0-0.
AP: Stuart Franklin
)Eriksen is one of Denmark’s biggest stars and the incident brought an instant sense of shock to the Parken Stadium, where about 15,000 fans fell into hushed silence.
As the fans in the stadium were waiting for updates, Finland supporters started chanting “Christian”, which was then answered by the Danish fans shouting “Eriksen”.
A huge roar then went up from all supporters when the stadium announcer said Eriksen was “stable and awake.”
Eriken’s club, Inter Milan, tweeted “Forza Chris, all of our thoughts are with you” from its English language twitter account.
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After Inter teammate Romelu Lukaku scored the opening goal for Belgium against Russia in the later game in St Petersburg, he ran to a pitchside camera and shouted: “Chris, Chris, I love you!”
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His former club Tottenham tweeted, “All of our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family”, later adding “The whole Spurs family is with you.”
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UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin also paid tribute to Eriksen and the players.
“Moments like this put everything in life into perspective,” he said in a statement.
“I wish Christian a full and speedy recovery and pray his family has strength and faith.
“At these times, the unity of the football family is so strong and he and his family carry with them the good wishes and prayers of everyone.
AP/ABC
