Denmark boss Brian Riemer believes it would have been inappropriate to continue playing after Christian Eriksen’s collapse. The midfielder collapsed on the pitch once again as Denmark hosted Ukraine in an international friendly.
He regained conciousness but has been taken to hospital for further tests. A statement read: “Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances. The match has been called off.”
A follow-up update from the Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen read: “Christian is doing well and walked off the field himself. As I see it, the pacemaker is firing as it should. He was briefly gone, but very quickly regained consciousness, and we were quickly in contact with him.
“Now he will be examined further in the hospital to find out what caused the incident. We are in constant contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well, and he asked me to greet all the players and say that he was okay.”
Riemer has now given his take on the incident and believes the decision to abandon the game was the correct one. He said: “Christian Eriksen waved to his teammates as he left the pitch. 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.”
Riemer added: “I’m looking forward to seeing him. I’m going over to see him now as soon as I have the chance. I need to see him and talk to him, I can feel that. He is a man who has meant a great deal to me.
“There are some players you become closer to than others, and he was one of those I became close to because of the experience he came with. And since then, we’ve also worked together with the national team, so he is someone I have a close relationship with and know very well. That is why it naturally sits very deeply with me.”
View 2 ImagesBrian Riemer has offered his thoughts on the incident (Image: Getty Images)
Eriksen’s Danish teammated Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also spoke out and suggested that the incident stirred memories of a similar incident at Euro 2020 where Eriksen collapsed after suffering a heart attack.
He said: “The most important thing is that Christian is okay – and that his family is okay. We went into the dressing room and spoke a bit there. Now you try to collect yourself and get the chance to talk things through with each other. Some people have questions, and others need to talk to their families. Some need to sit and listen a bit. That’s completely okay. It feels strange to say it brings back memories.
“The overriding thing is that the response was handled well, and that the medical staff had everything under control. And that the players showed respect, and that the fans showed great respect. It ended as well as it possibly could – given what happened. We are all deeply grateful for that, and that is the most important thing.
“It was a shock. The most important thing is that Christian is doing well,” Højbjerg added. “I think I need to see my children and my family. They are the ones I want to see.”
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