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Nacional’s Juan Izquierdo being taken off the pitch (Reuters)
Here are seven footballers who died on the football field.
Uruguayan defender Juan Izquierdo passed away on Tuesday after the 27-year-old collapsed on the pitch having suffering an irregular heartbeat during a Copa Libertadores game last week.
Izquierdo fell to the ground unconscious in the 84th minute during Nacional’s game against Brazilian side Sao Paulo on August 22, without coming into contact with another player. He was taken off the pitch in an ambulance before being treated at the intensive care unit of Albert Einstein Hospital, where he had been undergoing medical treatment.
ALSO READ | Uruguayan Defender Juan Izquierdo Passes Away After Collapsing on Pitch During Match at Sao Paolo
Here are 8 other players who died on the football field –
Marc-Vivien Foe, June 2003
Cameroon midfielder Foe collapsed after a heart attack during a Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia in Lyon, France. The former Manchester City, West Ham and Lyon player was carried from the pitch as medical staff tried to revive him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen. After trying to restart his heart for 45 minutes without success he was declared dead, aged just 28. His death prompted improvements in both the testing of footballers for heart problems and the treatment they can receive during matches, including training club medical teams in CPR and using defibrillators.
Cristiano Jr., December 2004
Junior collided with Mohun Bagan goalkeeper, in the 78th minute of the Federation Cup finals. While scoring his second goal after chasing the ball into the box, he collided with the keeper, staggered away and then collapsed. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. The game continued after Junior was taken off the field. He was dead on arrival at Hosmat Hospital, hospital officials said that no doctors were requested to be at the ground during the Federation Cup match, “At no time, was the hospital requested to provide doctors, and no agreement or contract for doctors was made.” According to the autopsy performed in the Bangalore Hospital (where Junior was moved from the stadium), the footballer died because of a heart stroke.
Antonio Puerta, August 2007
Spain international Puerta, 22, collapsed while playing for Sevilla in a La Liga match against Getafe and died three days later from multiple organ failure stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest. It was three months after he had helped Sevilla to win the UEFA Cup. Sergio Ramos has a tattoo tribute to Puerta and wore a T-shirt dedicated to him as Spain won the 2010 World Cup. “Antonio has always been with me. The next game, I went out on the field with his shirt and for a long time after that, I wore one that was dedicated to him,” said Ramos.
Phil O’Donnell, December 2007
The Motherwell captain died of heart failure towards the end of his side’s 5-3 Scottish Premier League win over Dundee United in December 2007. The 35-year-old midfielder collapsed just as he was about to be substituted and was treated for around five minutes on the field before being taken to a waiting ambulance. O’Donnell played for Scotland, Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday during his career and his death caused widespread grief in Scottish football, causing a number of fixtures to be postponed. “He was a man among boys in every sense, in his attitude, his professionalism and integrity and sincerity,” his manager Mark McGhee said.
Cheick Tiote, June 2017
The 30-year-old Ivory Coast international “suddenly fainted” during a regular training session on Monday and was taken to hospital where he died, his Chinese club Beijing Enterprises said. Tiote’s Ivorian teammate Gervinho, who plays for Hebei China Fortune, described Tiote as a “warrior” and “champion” on Twitter. “May your soul rest in peace,” he said. Alan Pardew, who managed Tiote at Newcastle United, said: “Cheick was a wonderful presence around the dressing room and his performances on the field often defied belief. I loved him. He’s everything that you want in a Newcastle player.”
Giuseppe Perrino, June 2021
In a tragic incident, a 29-year-old Italian footballer Giuseppe Perrino died on the field while playing a memorial match for his late brother. The sporting world is still in mourning after Giuseppe suffered a cardiac arrest during the match played in Poggiomarino, near Naples in Italy on June 1. The match was being played in the memory of his late brother Rocco, who had died due to the same reason in June 2018. Giuseppe was a member of an Italian football club named Parma.
Raphael Dwamena, November 2023
Ghanaian international footballer Raphael Dwamena died after collapsing during an Albanian Superiore game. The 28-year-old fell to the ground midway through the first half during KF Egnatia’s clash against Partizani. He was stretchered from the field and received first aid before being transferred to the hospital.
(With inputs from Agencies)
