Football - UEFA Champions League - League Phase - Liverpool FC v PSV Eindhoven LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool s Hugo Ekitike walks off with an injury during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda LIVERPOOL Anfield MERSEYSIDE ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2025-11-26-Liverpool_PSV-65
Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine in Odense was abandoned midway through the second half on Sunday after a player collapsed on the pitch.
The Danish Football Association confirmed the player involved was Christian Eriksen, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United midfielder.
The game was level at 2-1 when play was halted, with officials quickly responding to the incident on the field.
In an official statement, the Danish FA moved to reassure supporters about Eriksen’s condition following the alarming scenes.
The statement read: “Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances. The match has been called off.”
This is not the first time Eriksen has faced a serious medical emergency on a football pitch, making Sunday’s scenes particularly distressing for those watching.
He suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 while playing for Denmark against Finland, collapsing in front of a global audience.
At that time, Eriksen was contracted to Italian club Inter Milan, but Serie A rules prevented him from continuing to play with a defibrillator fitted.
He moved to Brentford in the Premier League to continue his career before spending last season in Germany with Wolfsburg.
Eriksen has spoken candidly about his pride in returning to professional football after overcoming such a life-threatening experience.
He said: “I think I’ve proven that I’m the footballer, not the guy who just had a heart attack. I’m the footballer, and yeah, that’s something I’m really proud of.”
He also reflected on what his recovery might mean to others facing difficult circumstances in their own lives.
“To prove a point that people out there who are who have a tough time – you can turn things around,” Eriksen said, adding that even the darkest times can yield something positive.
“Time will heal a lot of stuff, and then that’s how we come back and bounce back,” he continued, in remarks that now carry renewed weight following Sunday’s incident.
Back in 2021, Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen acknowledged that the cause of Eriksen’s original cardiac arrest remained unexplained, stating: “We don’t have an explanation why it happened. I can’t answer that question.”
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