Football stunned as Denmark star Christian Eriksen collapses during Euro 2020 game against Finland

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Denmark star Christian Eriksen is in a ‘stable condition’ in hospital after he collapsed on the pitch during a Euro 2020 game – but fans and ex-players were left furious after UEFA order the rest of the game has to be played. 

The 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder suddenly fell to the ground near the end of the first half during his side’s clash with Finland at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

Eriksen – a former-Tottenham player – was given CPR by frantic medics who sprinted onto the pitch as his sobbing teammates watched on shortly after 6pm. He received 13 minutes of medical treatment.

The match was quickly suspended – but UEFA announced just hours later that it would resume ‘following the request made by players of both teams’.

The Danish Football Union had already confirmed their star player ‘is awake’ and awaits further tests at hospital, as his agent Martin Schoots told a Danish radio station that he ‘breathes and can speak. He is out of danger.’ 

Eriksen is also understood to have spoken to his teammates from his hospital bed to reassure them of his condition.  

Remarkably, the match kicked off again around 7.30pm UK time following confirmation from UEFA – in a move blasted as ‘greedy’ by some supporters.

Eriksen’s former cardiologist at Tottenham last night told The Mail on Sunday that it was probable the star had suffered a cardiac arrest, despite having no history of heart problems. 

Warning: the following images may be distressing for some readers

A statement posted to UEFA’s official Twitter account read: ‘Following the medical emergency involving Denmark’s player Christian Eriksen, a crisis meeting has taken place with both teams and match officials and further information will be communicated at 19:45 CET.

‘The player has been transferred to the hospital and has been stabilised.’ 

A later post read: ‘Following the request made by players of both teams, UEFA has agreed to restart the match between Denmark and Finland tonight at 8.30pm CET.’ 

It also confirmed tonight’s match between Belgium and Russia will still go ahead.

The move to resume the Denmark vs Finland match was blasted online, with one fan writing: ‘I can’t believe UEFA is actually going to finish this match tonight. Greedy monsters.’ 

Another wrote: ‘Cancel every game today man don’t be greedy for once, please.’ 

Meanwhile, one Twitter user added: ‘I just hope y’all fans who were calling Super League “greedy” can see that UEFA is the biggest of all greedy entity.’ 

Another person called for the tournament to be halted. They wrote: ‘How greedy can you be? Cancel this match, stop this tournament!’

The drama began in the 42nd minute of the match as Denmark were attacking Finland’s goal. TV cameras cut to Eriksen – his team’s top scorer in their qualifying matches with five goals – who looked out of breath after chasing a ball that was cleared out of play by a Finland defender.

The midfielder, who moved from Tottenham to Italian side Inter Milan last year, slowed to a walk before staggering and collapsing to the ground as a team-mate Joakim Maehle threw the ball to him. Two other Danish players – Martin Braithwaite and Thomas Delaney – rushed to his side, with Delaney beckoning furiously for medical assistance.

English referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle before also waving for medical help. Denmark’s captain Simon Kjaer was seen ensuring that Eriksen had not swallowed his tongue.

The Denmark team’s physios arrived within 20 seconds, but the players became distressed at the absence of emergency paramedics and waved for further assistance. 

An emergency team soon arrived and after a couple of minutes the stunned Denmark players formed a protective ring around Eriksen to shield him and the medical team.

The midfielder’s wife – Sabrina Kvist – was seen crying on the touchline as she rushed down to the pitch. 

A hush fell over the 16,000-strong crowd as the medics were seen pumping Eriksen’s chest.

Many supporters were in tears and others turned away, unable to watch the distressing scenes. Meanwhile, Kjaer and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ran to comfort Ms Kvist Jensen, who has two children with Eriksen.

At 5.55pm, the devastated Finland team left the field, followed by the referee and other match officials. 

Shortly afterwards, Eriksen, by now conscious, was removed from the pitch.

Many fans from both countries stayed behind to chant their support. Finland fans could be heard chanting ‘Christian’ and the Danes responded with a chorus of ‘Eriksen’.  

Countless fans and fellow players rushed to Twitter to share their support for Eriksen, as the player remains stable in hospital. 

Prince William – an avid football supporter – took to Twitter to write: ‘Encouraging news about Christian Eriksen, we are all thinking about him and his family. Well done to the medical team and Anthony Taylor for their calm and swift action.’ 

Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba wrote: ‘Fight for your life Eriksen, we pray for you.’ 

Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed on the pitch at White Hart Lane while playing for Bolton against Tottenham in 2012, tweeted: ‘Please God’. 

Eriksen’s former team Tottenham wrote: ‘All of our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family.’ 

Cesc Fabregas, who was covering the game as a pundit, tweeted four praying emojis while Gary Lineker wrote: ‘Goodness me, this looks truly awful.’

Pundit Micah Richards wrote: ‘Praying for you Christian Eriksen’ and Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon added: ‘This is heartbreaking to see. Also please stop sharing videos of Christian or his girlfriend and cut off the cameras.’

Former Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil said: ‘Shocked. We’re all with you, Christian Eriksen. Please be ok.’ 

Jesse Lingard wrote: ‘Thoughts and prayers go out to Christian Eriksen and his family. Praying everything is ok’. 

Other players posting similar tweets for the Denmark midfielder included former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and Manchester United’s former right-back Gary Neville as well as current England and Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish. 

UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden wrote: ‘Awful scenes at Denmark v Finland Euros game. Thoughts with Christian Eriksen and his family.’

David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham and shadow justice secretary, tweeted: ‘Prayers and thoughts for Danish and Spurs Legend Christian Eriksen. ‘We are all rooting for you brother.’ 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan added: ‘Deeply upsetting scenes in Copenhagen. 

‘My thoughts right now are with Christian Eriksen, his family, and everyone in Denmark and around the world praying for his recovery.’ 

BBC coverage of the match saw pundit Alex Scott reduced to tears after Eriksen‘s collapse on the pitch.

When cameras cut to the BBC studio containing Scott, Cesc Fabregas, Micah Richards and host Gary Lineker, the former England women’s footballer was clearly emotional. 

She told the studio: ‘I’m already getting emotional, I cant believe what we’re witnessing. Football goes totally out of the window.  

‘You’re thinking about his family, all the rest of the players that are out there witnessing it as well. I actually just got on my phone and told my mother I love her. I think it’s a reminder how quickly life can change. Just like that.’

Current professional footballer Fabregas was also visibly shocked and claimed that everything has been put into perspective as a result of the incident. 

Fabregas said: ‘I don’t really know what to say really. My body is shaking. All I can think about is Christian’s family, what they must be going through and I pray for the very best. 

‘How many times do I go home and I’m upset and I fight with my family and loved ones? You realise it’s just a game. We need to enioy it every second and have passion and enjoy it but really there are things that don’t matter anymore. 

‘The most important thing is health. Just try to be always happy and enjoy what you have in life and how blessed we are and that’s it. It’s just a big shock for all of us.’

The BBC faced widespread criticism for not cutting away sooner after the collapse.

While Eriksen’s Denmark team-mates formed a ring around the player while he appeared to be receiving CPR, the BBC continued to broadcast the distressing scene while also showing the player’s wife on the sidelines.

Ian Wright was among those to voice their shock that the broadcaster failed to cut away for so long. 

He tweeted: ‘CUT TO THE STUDIO FFS!!!!’

Jermaine Beckford added: ‘This needs to cut to the studio now!’ 

‘Christian Eriksen This is not good for the viewing public just go back to the studio just think of who is watching come on BBC,’ tweeted Frank Bruno. 

Stephen Humphrys, a forward for League One side Rochdale, also hailed the unity of the Danish players and their immediate reaction.

‘Danish players guarding their teammate from the cameras is one of the best symbols of unity I’ve ever seen,’ Humphrys’ posted.

‘Huge respect. On the other hand, they shouldn’t have had to do it but unfortunately the media have no boundaries these days.’

Spencer Owen was also critical of the decision to show Eriksen’s girlfriend as part of the coverage.

He tweeted: ‘It must have been very difficult to know what to do from a broadcasting perspective as the Eriksen situation developed, but I can’t get my head around the fact that a director must have said ‘right now cut to his wife.’ 

‘There’s no other way that shot happens surely? Sickening.’

The corporation later apologised after complaints, saying: ‘We apologise to anyone who was upset by the images broadcast. 

‘In-stadium coverage is controlled by Uefa as the host broadcaster, and as soon as the match was suspended, we took our coverage off air as quickly as possible.’

REVEALED: Christian Eriksen has never had heart problems and passed all medical checks during his 11-year professional career – but doctors will now likely investigate after he collapsed on the pitch in horrifying incident at Euro 2020

By Alvise Cagnazzo For MailOnline

Christian Eriksen has never had heart problems in his career and passed all medical tests over the 11 years he’s played professional football.

Eriksen, 29, who is now understood to be in a stable condition, will likely have to have extensive tests over the coming days and weeks as doctors begin to investigate what happened after he collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s Euro 2020 game against Finland and had to be given CPR by emergency medics. 

Pictures of the Danish midfielder appeared to show him conscious and breathing as he was rushed off to hospital on a stretcher, with Eriksen seeming to be sat up with his hand on his head.

The terrible incident left Denmark and Finland’s players and fans in the stadium in floods of tears while Eriksen’s wife – Sabrina Kvist – was seen crying was seen crying and being comforted by Kasper Schmeichel as her husband laid on the floor receiving urgent medical attention. 

Eriksen has always shown high levels of physical health in the numerous medical checks he’s had over his professional career with Ajax, Tottenham, Inter Milan and Denmark, so his sudden collapse was a shocking incident which had never been expected. 

Eriksen currently plays his football in Italy with Inter Milan and the club’s chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said he was trying to stay positive as he attempted to reassure fans.

‘I’m cautiously optimistic about Erisken’s health,’ he told Sky Sport Italia after the incident. 

A number of reports have claimed that Eriksen is now breathing on his own and in a stable condition.

The Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland was postponed for almost two hours before play resumed at 7.30pm.

Countless fans and fellow players rushed to Twitter to share their words of encouragement to Eriksen, as the player remains stable in hospital.

Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba wrote: ‘Fight for your life Eriksen, we pray for you.’

Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed on the pitch at White Hart Lane while playing for Bolton against Tottenham in 2012, tweeted: ‘Please God’.

Eriksen’s former team Tottenham wrote: ‘All of our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family.’

England winger Jadon Sancho wrote: My prayers go out to’ followed by the Danish flag, a broken heart and a praying emoji.

Cesc Fabregas, who was covering the game as a pundit, tweeted four praying emojis while Gary Lineker tweeted: ‘Goodness me, this looks truly awful.’

Pundit Micah Richards wrote: ‘Praying for you Christian Eriksen’ and Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon added: ‘This is heartbreaking to see. Also please stop sharing videos of Christian or his girlfriend and cut off the cameras.’

BBC trio Cesc Fabregas, Alex Scott and Micah Richards left ‘SHOCKED’ after Denmark’s clash with Finland was restarted as Gary Lineker calls Euro 2020 broadcast ‘the most distressing and emotional I’ve ever been involved with’ 

By Cian Cheesbrough For Mailonline 

BBC pundits Cesc Fabregas, Alex Scott and Micah Richards were left in shock after Denmark vs Finland was resumed less than two hours after Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch forcing the game to be suspended.

The Euro 2020 Group B match was halted at around 6pm after worrying scenes saw the 29-year-old stumble to the floor midway through the first half before he was given CPR on the field and rushed to hospital.

Eriksen was reported to be in a ‘stable condition’ in hospital and UEFA made a shock announcement just hours later that it would resume ‘following the request made by players of both teams’. 

After coverage was resumed studio pundits Fabregas, Scott, Micah Richards and Gary Lineker questioned the decision to resume play so quickly.

When asked if he was surprised they played on this evening, Fabregas replied: ‘Yes am. Because today is not a day to play the Euros game. It’s just a moment to realise how grateful we are. 

‘If it’s their (the players’) decision then spot on. Well done to them they are strong enough mentally to cope with it. 

‘It’s hard to understand mentally how they did it. It’s very, very sad but fair play to them and I hope for a good second half.’

It was later reported that Eriksen was conscious following the horrific incident while Peter Moller, technical director of Denmark, told Danish TV that he has spoken to the rest of the squad. 

On this news, Scott added: ‘I think that’s all the news that we can concentrate on. A football match has just resumed but that’s the positive thing. 

‘We saw those scenes in the first half, but he’s pulling through and we hope he continues to pull through and that why I’m starting to smile again because of your positive news that we’re all getting. 

‘To see a football match just resume, I’m still in shock.’

Lineker responded by saying: ‘It’s bizarre but it’s such a good sign isn’t it because there’s no way they would have played on if he was in serious jeopardy now.’

In agreement, Richards said: ‘I agree it’s a good sign and we’ve got to be positive.’ 

Christian Eriksen’s ex-Tottenham doctor claims it’s a MIRACLE he survived ‘probable cardiac arrest’ after collapsing in Euro 2020 game… and warns no fitness tests are ‘foolproof’ in football  

By Stephen Adams for The Mail on Sunday 

Christian Eriksen probably suffered a cardiac arrest but staged a remarkable recovery, according to his former cardiologist at Tottenham Hotspur.

Professor Sanjay Sharma, who put the former Tottenham midfielder through an annual battery of tests between 2013 and 2020, said Eriksen had no known history of heart problems – but that no tests were ‘foolproof’.

He said the 29-year-old Denmark star appeared to have recovered ‘very quickly’ given reports that his heart had stopped for five minutes.

‘If they did aggressive CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] on him and if they did have to use a defibrillator, then I would call this a primary cardiac arrest as a result of the heart going into a bad rhythm,’ Prof Sharma told The Mail on Sunday.

‘What I saw was that he ran towards the ball, completely lost his legs – clearly at that point something had gone terribly wrong – becomes floppy, hits the ground and starts fitting.’

He said the short fit was probably the result of the brain being starved of oxygen, adding: ‘The moment you hit the ground to the moment they get your heart started again is known as downtime. The longer your downtime, the worse your outlook.

‘For every minute that they don’t get you back, if you haven’t got good CPR, then the chance of you surviving goes down by about seven per cent.

‘Normally with somebody who’s had a downtime of five or six minutes, if they get them back, they’re in such a bad way that they have to be ventilated, with a tube going down their throat helping them to breathe.

‘But remember, Eriksen is a very young fit man. He is not like the elderly people who have a cardiac arrest outside Sainsbury’s. This is a guy with fantastic circulation.’

In the minutes before confirmation came that Eriksen had survived and was in a stable condition, Prof Sharma said he had been ‘praying’ he would pull through.

He explained that CPR keeps blood – and thereby oxygen – flowing to vital organs, and in particular the brain, while the heart cannot pump. The defibrillator is used to restart the heart.

Prof Sharma, a consultant cardiologist for the charity Cardiac Risk In The Young, said he had carried out annual electrocardiograms (ECGs) and ultrasound checks on Eriksen during his time at Tottenham to scan for abnormalities.

The footballer, who now plays for the Italian side Inter Milan, was also put through ‘maximal exercise tests’ to reveal any problems such as inherited heart muscle issues and electrical signalling faults.

‘From the day we signed him it was my job to screen him, and we tested him every year,’ said Prof Sharma. ‘So certainly his tests up to 2019 were completely normal with no obvious underlying cardiac fault. Every single year he was tested. I can vouch for that because I did the tests.’

When he heard that Eriksen had collapsed, Prof Sharma immediately went through the player’s test results again. ‘I thought, “Oh my God? Is there something there that we didn’t see?” But I have looked at all the test results and everything looked perfect.’

He said it was possible that Eriksen had picked up a silent heart problem since leaving Tottenham in January 2020, although Inter Milan would have carried out similar checks.

‘Obviously we’ve had Covid. Some footballers may have had sub-clinical Covid infection, which may have resulted in scarring of the heart,’ said Prof Sharma.  

FABRICE MUAMBA: I was in tears when Denmark’s Christian Eriksen collapsed – it brought everything back for me… I’m hoping he pulls through and the best decision is made for him

By Fabrice Muamba For The Mail On Sunday 

I was in tears on Saturday. It brought back everything — everything. It was scary.

I was at a friend’s house and had only just switched on the game when I saw Christian Eriksen fall to the ground. I thought: ‘No way. This is not happening.’ And the more it went on, the scarier it became.

It brought back all the memories of what had happened to me — and I was literally in tears and I don’t even know the guy like that. I was thinking: “Come on Eriksen, come on”.

Everything was suddenly there again for me in my mind. I have always tried not to think about it too much, but it’s hard not to. The more I think about it, the more it gets to me.

I have tried to move on but to see it happening to somebody else, you just ask yourself, “Why?” It is horrible. I had to call my dad straight away and say, “Are you watching this? This can’t be happening. Why has it happened to him?”

He has two kids — and his wife was there. I spoke to my wife — she had to travel on a train from Manchester to London when it happened to me — and I just asked her, “How did you cope?”

I’m pleased the news is positive. But I will be more at peace if I see him come out and speak. The guy is young and you just have to wonder…I’m hoping he pulls through and comes out of it. It is very disturbing and awful to watch.

I credit the referee for being able to handle it and the ambulance and medical staff.

I was literally in tears and I’m getting upset again now just talking about it because it just brings it all back…

But I am OK. It was just a really unexpected day. I just hope he pulls through and they make the best decision for him.