Christian Eriksen: Denmark game abandoned as star collapses on the pitch | OneFootball

Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on Sunday was abandoned after former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch.

What happened

Denmark faced Ukraine in a friendly at Odense Stadium, which is where the incident took place.

Eriksen appeared to grab his chest before falling to the ground in the 65th minute of the proceedings, prompting referee Sigurd Smehus Kringstad to call off the game in the 79th minute.

The Denmark and Ukraine players formed a protective ring around Eriksen while the medics attended to him.

The Denmark stars were in understandable disarray, with some of them reduced to tears as events unfolded. Fortunately, it has been confirmed that the ex-United man is conscious and recovering well.

Eriksen previously suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the pitch during Denmark’s Euro 2020 clash against Finland in 2021.

He was subsequently fitted with ​a special heart-starting device ⁠known as an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD).

Eriksen update

Denmark’s national team doctor Morten Boesen, who was credited with saving Eriksen’s life in 2021 has issued an update, saying, “Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch by himself. As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should.”

“He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly and we were quickly in contact with him.”

“He will undergo further examinations at the hospital to determine what caused the incident. We are in ongoing contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well, and asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them he was OK.”

Denmark boss Brian Riemer said, “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.”

“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.”

United have also released a statement which reads, “Everybody at Manchester United is encouraged by Denmark’s update on Christian Eriksen following today’s abandoned friendly against Ukraine.”

“The club is sending strength and love to Christian and the Eriksen family as we await further news.”

Featured image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images

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