Rio Ferdinand claims he was rocked by Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest in Denmark’s Euro 2020 opening game against Finland and has suggested the player will not play again.
Eriksen collapsed towards the end of the first half of Saturday’s game in Copenhagen and had to be resuscitated by a defibrillator before he was taken to hospital.
Denmark have confirmed he is now in a stable condition and has been video-calling his teammates, though he is still hospitalised while doctors investigate the cause.
Asked if he thinks Eriksen will play again, Ferdinand said on his Vibe With Five YouTube show: ‘I don’t think he plays again, I’ve got to be honest.
‘If I’m him I’m not thinking about that probably, I’d just want to be healthy for the sake of my family really.’
On watching the situation unfold, the former Manchester United defender continued: ‘I got a bit emotional, I’ve got to be honest.
‘Just to see that and to see the effects on his wife, the pictures of his wife or his girlfriend coming through as well, it was just so emotional man.
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‘It hits you and just makes you think about life, man, and the importance of really appreciating life and enjoying your life.
‘It’s just great we can sit here and he’s made comments that are now live in the media about he didn’t know what happened, he’s keen to find out what happened.
‘I think they’re saying [it was] a cardiac arrest, I wouldn’t like to jump to conclusions but I think that’s the rumours that I’m hearing.
‘But I just think he’ll obviously be evaluating his life post this, and just hopefully he continues his recovery in the vein that he is at the moment – which seems to be positive.
‘It was a day that football stands still and you go, “Wow!” It’s a tournament, we’re happy it’s started and stuff, but when situations like that happen you think, “Wow, ok, just look at life”.’
