Denmark's Christian Eriksen Suffered Cardiac Arrest in Euro 2020 Match

The Euro 2020 match was suspended after Christian Eriksen collapsed near the sideline and was rushed to the hospital.

Wolfgang Rattay/Pool/Getty Images

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and was momentarily without a pulse after collapsing in the first half of Saturday's Euro 2020 match against Finland, according to team doctor Morten Boesen. 

”He was gone,” Boesen said. ”We got him back after one defib. That’s quite fast. ... How close were we? I don't know.” 

Eriksen was transported to Rigshospitalet, a hospital in Copenhagen, per the Danish FA. Martin Schoots, Eriksen's agent, told Dutch radio that Eriksen is awake and alert with his family.

"I just spoke to Christian's father, and he told me that he is breathing, and that he is able to speak," Schoots said.

Update regarding Christian Eriksen. pic.twitter.com/YuKD9hS9LV

— DBU - En Del Af Noget Større (@DBUfodbold) June 13, 2021

Around the 43rd minute, Eriksen played a short pass when he fell face-forward onto the ground and was unconscious.

Spectators inside the stadium in Copenhagen went silent as players from both Denmark and Finland stood around Eriksen as CPR was administered. Eriksen received chest compressions for about 10 minutes after his collapse on the field.

Eriksen was carried off the field to a loud ovation, with his teammates walking next to the stretcher. A stadium announcer asked fans to stay in their seats until further information could be provided.

Following the medical emergency involving Denmark’s player Christian Eriksen, a crisis meeting has taken place with both teams and match officials and further information will be communicated at 19:45 CET.

The player has been transferred to the hospital and has been stabilised.

— UEFA (@UEFA) June 12, 2021

The match resumed Saturday afternoon in which Finland—making its debut in a major tournament—earned the 1-0 victory on Joel Pohjanpalo's 59th-minute goal. Denmark still had a chance to tie the match but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg missed a penalty kick on 74 minutes. 

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.