Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is conscious and receiving medical evaluation after collapsing during Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine on Sunday, prompting the match to be abandoned.
The Danish Football Federation said Eriksen was alert following the incident and was being monitored by doctors.
“Christian Eriksen is conscious and is doing well under the circumstances,” the federation said in a statement on X.
The incident occurred 20 minutes into the second half, with television pictures showing Eriksen clutching his chest before falling to the pitch. Players from both teams immediately alerted medical staff, while teammates and opponents formed a protective circle around him as he received treatment.
The 34-year-old was later able to leave the field and make his way to an ambulance before being taken to hospital for further examinations.
“Christian is doing well and walked from the field himself. As I see it, the pacemaker is working as it should. He was briefly gone, but very quickly regained consciousness, and we were quickly in contact with him,” Danish team doctor Morten Boesen told local media.
“He will now be examined further in the hospital to find out what caused the incident. We are in constant contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well, and he asked me to talk to all the players and say that he was okay.”
The collapse brought back memories of the incident during Denmark’s opening match at the 2021 European Championship, when Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the field in Copenhagen. He later returned to professional football after being fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD).
Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg praised the swift response from those around Eriksen.
“(Everyone) reacted super-fast and with respect … I can only compliment how much courage those who took care of Christian on the field had. I can’t say much more than that you get a shock, and that the most important thing is that Christian is doing well.”
The match was called off with Denmark leading 2-1. Following the abandonment, players and staff from both teams gathered on the pitch in a show of support.
Denmark coach Brian Riemer said the focus remained on Eriksen’s wellbeing.
“The most important thing is that Christian is doing well and he is, he has left the field, and he has sent his regards to the players,” Riemer said.
“Now it’s about us standing together, as you could see that we did in the most dignified way on the field. So it’s about standing together now and of course ensuring that everyone has a shoulder to lean on from here.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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