Former Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen ‘conscious’ after collapsing in Denmark match

The football match between Denmark and Ukraine was halted on Sunday after a player appeared to collapse on the pitch. Christian Eriksen was seen on TV footage holding his chest in the 65th minute of the friendly fixture, before the camera shot moved elsewhere.

The match was quickly halted amid concern for the former Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder. In an update from the Danish Football Union (DFU) Eriksen is now said to be “conscious and doing well” following the incident.

Eriksen previously suffered a cardiac arrest after collapsing on the pitch during a Euro 2020 match against Finland. He subsequently had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator device fitted to ensure he could resume his playing career.

Due to the 34-year-old’s medical history, fears mounted for the player before the DFU provided a positive update. The statement said: “Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances. The match has been called off.”

With the score 2-1 to Denmark in the friendly at Nature Energy Park, Eriksen experienced discomfort and briefly went unconscious. Danish team doctor Morten Boesen, who was also involved with the national team when Eriksen collapsed five years ago, confirmed the midfielder was at hospital to have more tests.

“Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch by himself. As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should,” Boesen said in a statement via DBU. “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.”

Denmark boss Brian Riemer revealed Eriksen responded to his team-mates after the incident. “Christian Eriksen waved to his team-mates as he left the pitch,” Riemer told reporters.

“A few minutes before he fell ill, he had had a tussle with Ruslan Malinovskyi and I thought that was why he looked so distressed, but I was wrong. From that moment on, neither I nor the players on the pitch could have carried on with the match.”

Spurs and Manchester United quickly offered well wishes to Eriksen. “Our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery, Christian. We’re all with you,” a statement by Tottenham read.

A Manchester United statement read: “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.”

Eriksen was contracted to Inter Milan during the Euro 2020 medical incident, where he required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at Parken Stadium. However, Serie A rules prevented players being able to play in the league with a pacemaker and the midfielder resumed his career at Brentford in 2022 before he enjoyed a three-year spell at Manchester United. He joined Wolfsburg last summer.

“We’re thinking of you, Christian,” a statement by Wolfsburg read. “He has been taken to Odense University Hospital, where further examinations will follow. We are in close contact with the Danish Football Association and are following further developments. All the best and a speedy recovery, Christian.”