Christian Eriksen, the Denmark player, collapsed and had to have life-saving medical treatment during his country’s Euro 2020 match against Finland at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. He was taken to hospital and “stabilised”.

The game, which had been suspended following the medical emergency, resumed at midnight, India time. Finland won 1-0 with striker Joel Pohjanpalo scoring the winner.

Eriksen, the 29-year-old Inter Milan and former Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax midfielder, had just played a pass close to the side of the pitch shortly before halftime when he started staggering and slumped to the ground.

His Denmark teammates Martin Braithwaite and Thomas Delaney immediately sensed serious trouble, rushing to him and waving frantically for trainers to come to his aid. The English referee, Anthony Taylor, immediately stopped the game.

The players, some of them in tears and others praying, then formed a circle to shield Eriksen as the medical teams attended the player who lay on the grass. At one point, television images showed a trainer performing chest compressions on Eriksen.

As a hush fell over the 16,000-strong crowd, Eriksen’s distressed teammates formed a ring around him as medics pumped his chest.

Both teams subsequently left the field with officials holding up sheets to hide the stricken player from view, and the stadium announcer told fans that the Group B game had been suspended due to a medical emergency and to stay in their seats.
The game was scoreless when Eriksen collapsed.

Trainers and medical teams worked on Eriksen on the field for nearly 20 minutes before transferring him onto a stretcher and carrying him off the field. As he left, he appeared to be awake on the stretcher, resting his hand on his forehead.

A Reuters photographer at the game saw Eriksen raise his hand as he was carried from the pitch, and the stadium announcer later told the crowd that he had been taken to the nearby Rigshospitalet.

The Danish DBU football association tweeted that the footballer was “awake and at Rigshospitalet for further examinations”. Uefa, the tournament organiser, suspended the match and later tweeted that Eriksen had been taken to the hospital and “stabilised.”

Just over an hour after the incident, Uefa announced the match would resume “following the request made by players of both teams.” The teams will return to the field for the final four minutes of the first half, then take a five-minute break for “halftime” and resume the match to its completion.

Inside the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, fans waiting appeared to unite in concern for Eriksen, at one point volleying chants back and forth. When the Finnish fans chanted “Christian,” their Danish counterparts answered with “Eriksen.”
Eriksen’s crying partner, Sabrina Kvist Jensen, was comforted by Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and the team’s captain, Simon Kjaer.

Players and former players immediately messaged their support. Gary Lineker, who was hosting the BBC coverage of the game, said: “Football has really been put into perspective.”

Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal and Spain midfielder, added: “My body is shaking. All I can think of is Christian’s family.” Alex Scott, the former Arsenal and England player, could barely speak through emotion, but poignantly said: “I have just phoned my mother and told her I love her.”

Others used social media to send their support. Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed while playing for Bolton Wanderers against Tottenham in an FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane, during which time his heart stopped and did not start again for another 78 minutes, tweeted: “Please God.”

Muamba, who had to be given electric shocks with a defibrillator, had to retire from football because of the cardiac arrest.
After scoring the first goal against Russia in St Petersburg, Belgium and Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku ran to the camera and screamed “Chris, I love you.” He dedicated the goal to his Inter Milan team-mate Eriksen.

Tottenham, Manchester United and Everton were among the clubs sending their thoughts to the star.
Eriksen has been a fixture for Denmark for more than a decade. He led the team to the World Cup in 2018, where it advanced to the round of 16.

(Written with inputs from NYTNS and agencies)