Eriksen collapses, Euro tie suspended
GUWAHATI: The Group B game between Denmark and Finland at the European Championship in Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium was suspended on Saturday evening after Denmark’s star midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field just minutes before the end of the first half.
With the scores still goalless in the 42nd minute, referee Anthony Taylor stopped play and signalled for the medical team as cameras showed a motionless Eriksen lying on the pitch. Eriksen had just played a short pass from the left flank before falling face first into the ground.
The Danish players, many of whom were later seen in tears, quickly surrounded Eriksen as the medicos tried to resuscitate him. The stadium announcer told the 16,000-strong crowd at the ground that the game had been suspended and asked them to stay in their seats for a further update.
“The UEFA EURO 2020 match in Copenhagen has been suspended due to a medical emergency,” European football governing body UEFA tweeted from its official account shortly after players headed to the tunnel and Eriksen was taken off on a stretcher surrounded by his teammates and by white sheets to shield him from public view.
UEFA later tweeted that Eriksen’s condition had stabilised.
“The player has been transferred to the hospital and has been stabilised.” It also added that it was conducting a crisis meeting with both teams and match officials to decide on the fate of the game.
A part of the Serie A-winning Inter Milan side this past season, Eriksen has played for London club Tottenham and Dutch giants Ajax in the past. Hailed as one of the best Danish players of his generation, Eriksen has 108 international caps for Denmark, prior to Saturday’s match, and has scored 36 goals for his country.