ODENSE, Denmark — Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine was abandoned after midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during the second...
ODENSE, Denmark — Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine was abandoned after midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during the second half of the match in Odense.
Footage from the game showed Eriksen grabbing his chest before falling to the ground in the 65th minute. Medical personnel immediately attended to the 34-year-old as players from both teams reacted quickly to the incident.
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The Danish Football Association later confirmed that Eriksen was conscious following the collapse and was recovering.
“Christian Eriksen is conscious and is doing well under the circumstances,” the federation said in a statement posted on X.
Denmark national team doctor Morten Boesen provided further details on Eriksen’s condition, saying the midfielder was able to leave the field without assistance.
“Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch by himself,” Boesen said. “As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should.”
Boesen said Eriksen briefly lost consciousness but recovered quickly after receiving treatment.
“He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly and we were quickly in contact with him,” he said. “He will undergo further examinations at the hospital to determine what caused the incident.”
According to the team doctor, Eriksen remained in contact with medical staff and asked that his message be passed on to his teammates.
“But Christian is doing well, and asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them he was OK,” Boesen added.
Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said players on the field immediately understood the seriousness of the situation and praised the medical team for their response.
“(Everyone) reacted super-fast and with respect. I can only compliment how much courage those who took care of Christian on the field had,” Hojbjerg told TV2. “The most important thing is that Christian is doing well.”
Players from Denmark and Ukraine formed a protective circle around Eriksen while he received treatment. After the match was abandoned, players and coaching staff from both teams stood together in a united circle on the pitch.
Denmark coach Brian Riemer thanked both teams for their support and stressed the importance of standing together following the incident.
“The most important thing is that Christian is doing well and he is,” Riemer said. “Now it’s about us standing together and ensuring that everyone has a shoulder to lean on from here.”
Manchester United also issued a message of support following the incident.
“Everybody at Manchester United is encouraged by Denmark’s update on Christian Eriksen following today’s abandoned friendly against Ukraine. The club is sending strength and love to Christian and the Eriksen family as we await further news,” the club said on X.
Eriksen previously suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland in 2021 and later returned to professional football with an implanted pacemaker. Further medical examinations are expected to determine the cause of Sunday’s incident.
