Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Football ace has brain damage after collapse
20-year-old’s injury is serious & permanent
A PRO footballer who collapsed during a match has suffered severe and lifelong brain damage.
Abdelhak Nouri, 20, was one of the best young players at Dutch giants Ajax.
MRI scans show his brain has been starved of oxygen. Tests revealed he suffered heart rhythm problems during the game.
Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar, who played for Manchester United and Fulham, said: “It’s terrible. We feel enormously for his parents, siblings and other relatives.
“The blow is hard here at Ajax. Abdelhak is such a great talent but unfortunately we will never know how far this star would have reached had this not happened.”
The diagnosis means Nouri’s career is over. Team-mates and fans watched in shock as Nouri, known as Appie, was airlifted to hospital after slumping to the ground. The Amsterdam club said: “Ajax are deeply saddened by the news Appie Nouri has been diagnosed with serious and permanent brain damage.” He collapsed about 70 minutes into the pre-season friendly against German side Werder Bremen in Austria on Saturday. He was treated by medics at the ground before being flown to hospital in a helicopter.
The Dutch midfielder is set to be moved to a hospital in the Netherlands. He was part of the Ajax squad for the Europa League final that they lost to Man United in May. Former Arsenal and Man United striker Robin van Persie said: “Devastating news about Abdelhak Nouri. I wish him and his family all the strength in the world.” In 2012, Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest playing for Bolton. Medics saved him despite him being effectively dead for almost 80 minutes.