Danish footballer Christian Eriksen has been hospitalised after collapsing during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine, which led to the game being abandoned last night.
Eriksen, 34, appeared to grab his chest before falling to the ground in the 65th minute of the international fixture in the Danish city of Odense, with Norwegian referee Sigurd Smehus Kringstad calling the game off in the 79th minute due to the incident involving the VfL Wolfsburg midfielder.
“He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly,” national team doctor Morten Boesen said in a Danish federation statement.
The former Manchester United and Tottenham player previously suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the pitch during Denmark’s Euro 2020 encounter with Finland in Copenhagen in June 2021.
Eriksen was subsequently fitted with a special heart-starting device known as an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and, after being released by Inter Milan, was able to relaunch his playing career with Premier League team Brentford in February 2022, just eight months after collapsing against Finland.
Denmark and Ukraine players surrounded Eriksen while he was being treated. A hush fell over the crowd before a chant of “Eriksen, Eriksen” went around Nature Energy Park in Odense, Denmark.
National team doctor Boesen added: “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 now 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 he asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them that he was okay.”
In a post to social media, Eriksen’s club, VfL Wolfsburg, wrote: “We’re thinking of you, Christian,” adding that they were in close contact with the Danish federation.
“All the best and a speedy recovery,” the post added.
On X, Tottenham wrote: “Our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery, Christian. We’re all with you.”
