him and you can imagine the watching him and you can imagine the faces of the fans, never mind the players. they revealed the gravity, the potential gravity, of this incident. it was notjust an injury, not a collision with another player, this was someone dropping on their own with no apparent external cause. it appeared, and own with no apparent external cause. itappeared, and i own with no apparent external cause. it appeared, and i say appeared because we have had no official word at all as yet, that cpr was being performed on christian eriksen. he is a 29—year—old father of two. we will bring you, of course, anything we get, but now let's cross to our colleagues at the bt sport centre. the euro 2020 match between denmark and finland has been suspended after the danish midfielder cristian eriksen collapsed on the pitch shortly before half—time. it appeared he received cpr after medical staff immediately rushed onto the field.

we are hoping for some sense of his condition. there has been no official word except for a statement from uefa talking about him being transferred to the hospital and he has been stabilised. let's talk to john watson, who's covering the tournament from wembley. perhaps you could tell those people who are justjoining us what the turn of events was at the parken stadium in front of a lot of danish fans. ., ., ., , fans. indeed, good evening. it was “ust fans. indeed, good evening. it was just before — fans. indeed, good evening. it was just before half-time _ fans. indeed, good evening. it was just before half-time in _ fans. indeed, good evening. it was just before half-time in denmark'sj just before half—time in denmark's match against finland, their opening encounter at the parken stadium in cogan hagan that christian eriksen collapsed on the pitch. it was his team—mate who formed a protective shield around him at the time, as cbr was administered on the pitch. we can only guess that he suffered a

cardiac arrest at the time. huge concern from his team—mates, from the opposing team as well and obviously the huge support that was inside the stadium watching the match. the game was suspended just before half—time. it was the english referee anthony taylor refereeing the game, calling a halt to proceedings as cpr continued to be administered to christian eriksen. as we know, it brought back memories of that tragic incident involving andile phehlukwayo in the fa cup tie. he was playing bolton at white hart lane when he suffered a cardiac arrest, his heart stopped beating for 78 minutes and the only hope —— that tragic incident involving fabrice muamba. the most significant update we have had has come from uefa in the last few moments, telling us that christian eriksen has been transferred to hospital and

has been transferred to hospital and has been transferred to hospital and has been stabilised. that is some significant news, some very good news with regards to his condition. nothing as yet as to what potentially the impact it could have on the long—term, but significantly he is stable and has now been transferred to hospital. as we know, this was their first group game for denmark to be staged at home and they had two more games to come against belgium and against russia. very early stages at the moment to suggest what impact this will have not only the suspended game but the two other group to follow and the tournament as a whole. the significant information so far is that he is stable and that will be a huge comfort notjust to christian eriksen himself, but his family and his friends and team—mates after what was a desperately sad and tragic situation. find

what was a desperately sad and tragic situation.— what was a desperately sad and tragic situation. and to see some offers scenes _ tragic situation. and to see some offers scenes of _ tragic situation. and to see some offers scenes of his _ tragic situation. and to see some offers scenes of his family - tragic situation. and to see some offers scenes of his family on - tragic situation. and to see some offers scenes of his family on the pitch trying to receive any sort of word at the time he was being administered with that medical attention. we understand that the danish official account on twitter have said that he is awake and awaiting further investigation into his medical condition, which of course is incredibly heartening news. you mention fabrice muamba and the changes that happened in football as a result of that incident, having defibrillators easily accessible at the side of the pitch, the kind of medical attention thatis pitch, the kind of medical attention that is now available to players at all matches as a result particularly of what happened that day. it seems to have been something that christian eriksen would have potentially benefited from this afternoon. , ., , , afternoon. yes, absolutely, something _ afternoon. yes, absolutely, something which _ afternoon. yes, absolutely, something which fabrice i afternoon. yes, absolutely, - something which fabrice muamba himself campaigned very hard for following that incident back in 2012

to increase the number of defibrillators at stadiums, but also the screening of players to check for any heart complaints, heart conditions. as we know, screening is not necessarily a deterrent and a full stop way of ensuring that happens, but it is something which has seen improvements come about, certainly. it does feel, though, like these type of incidents happened with more regularity. we saw it with the former newcastle midfielder who tragically died after collapsing in training. it feels like it is something we hear a lot about, but in this instance, great news that as things stand, christian eriksen is awake, seemingly, and his condition is improving. as you say, having been transferred to hospital and he has been stabilised. huge concern, as you say, with his partner on the sidelines there being

consoled by the danish captain and kasper schmeichel, the leicester city goalkeeper, both their for what was a very distressing situation. thankfully for christian eriksen, his friends and family, good news that his condition has improved and that his condition has improved and that he has been stabilised in hospital. that he has been stabilised in hosital. , ., ., that he has been stabilised in hosital. , ., . ~ , , that he has been stabilised in hosital. ., . , , ., ,, hospital. john at wembley, thank you ve much hospital. john at wembley, thank you very much indeed. _ hospital. john at wembley, thank you very much indeed. just _ hospital. john at wembley, thank you very much indeed. just to _ hospital. john at wembley, thank you very much indeed. just to reiterate i very much indeed. just to reiterate that the danish official twitter account is talking about christian eriksen being awake and that there will be further medical attention administered to him and they will be investigations into his health and of course, uefa's recent statement says that after he collapsed on the pitch during that match between denmark and finland that he has been transferred to the hospital and has been stabilised. that is the latest news. if anything develops over the cause of the next few hours we will bring it to you. for now, shown,

with some fairly hopeful news from the danish national team, it is back to you. yes, thank you very much. just to reiterate what us link in the last few minutes, the danish national team has said that only has christian eriksen�*s position stabilised after his collapse at the parken stadium in the last hour, he is also awake in hospital and awaiting further tests. jim white, sports writer and commentator, writes regularly in the daily telegraph, hejoins me. early days, jim, but a telegraph, hejoins me. early days, jim, buta huge telegraph, hejoins me. early days, jim, but a huge relief forfans telegraph, hejoins me. early days, jim, but a huge relief for fans to hear that he is at least conscious and the initial stages are much more hopeful than about half an hour ago when he collapsed.— hopeful than about half an hour ago when he collapsed. absolutely and a hue relief when he collapsed. absolutely and a huge relief for _ when he collapsed. absolutely and a huge relief for everybody, _ when he collapsed. absolutely and a huge relief for everybody, really. - huge relief for everybody, really. it looked catastrophic stop watching a football match on a saturday

afternoon on the television, it is the last thing you expect a hugely fit men and suddenly one of them collapses in that manner. really distressing scenes that other players were distraught, the referee was distraught, and brought back memories, as you were saying, of fabrice muamba, the bolton wanderers player, going down at tottenham hotspur. he was blessed by the fact there was a cardiologist, a consultant cardiologist in the crowd that day you jumped over the barriers and went into help him, and that effectively saved his life. that is how tenuous these conditions make it. it that is how tenuous these conditions make it. ., ,., , make it. it also underlines the oint of make it. it also underlines the point of how — make it. it also underlines the point of how important - make it. it also underlines the point of how important it - make it. it also underlines the point of how important it is i make it. it also underlines the| point of how important it is for fast treatment, in that first few seconds, and by the reaction of his fellow players, immediately realising something was seriously wrong, notjust that he tripped overall had a twinge in his leg, he

had gone down so hard and was clearly not responding, to get people onto the pitch and the medical teams to respond so quickly, that could turn out to have made all the difference.— the difference. absolutely right, s - eeders the difference. absolutely right, speeders of _ the difference. absolutely right, speeders of the _ the difference. absolutely right, speeders of the essence - the difference. absolutely right, speeders of the essence in - speeders of the essence in circumstances. and i think that is usa before, the lessons were learned from fabrice muamba, that is the great thing, they realise that, yes, it may seem extreme incident, but it could happen again and you have to be ready for it and have that speedy ability to get in there. and i think the medical teams that attend football now are much more attuned to it. in football now are much more attuned to it. , ., to it. in terms of the responsibilities - to it. in terms of the | responsibilities when to it. in terms of the _ responsibilities when something like this happens, our lot. the shoulders of the referee, because it is the

old thing when everyone has to look to one person to make the decisions and anthony taylor, a match referee doing many matches in the premier league, you rely on people like that in those times, don't you? yes. league, you rely on people like that in those times, don't you?— in those times, don't you? yes, and the must in those times, don't you? yes, and they must act _ in those times, don't you? yes, and they must act spontaneously. - in those times, don't you? yes, and they must act spontaneously. it - in those times, don't you? yes, and they must act spontaneously. it is i they must act spontaneously. it is not something they will have done, probably not even planned through in their training, probably not even planned through in theirtraining, not something probably not even planned through in their training, not something that you have tests for you must respond immediately, you must recognise the seriousness of the situation and take control. i think it spread from the players to the referee. there was a mutual understanding that this was a mutual understanding that this was critical and everybody watching recognised that as well. there was a sudden wash over the stadium, we had been so expecting noise from crowds returning to football and that bush was really chilling. —— that hush

was really chilling. —— that hush was really chilling. —— that hush was really chilling. -- that hush was really chilling.— was really chilling. yes, the cameras — was really chilling. yes, the cameras picking _ was really chilling. yes, the cameras picking out - was really chilling. yes, the cameras picking out the - was really chilling. yes, the i cameras picking out the faces was really chilling. yes, the - cameras picking out the faces of players and fans, many made up in the national colours of red and white and set for a great start to euro 2020. they were really buoyed up euro 2020. they were really buoyed up and excited, lovely summer evening and then this happens out of a blue sky. remind us what christian eriksen is famous for and it is not just that he plays football in the national team. just that he plays football in the nationalteam. he just that he plays football in the national team. he has a heck of a career already.— career already. yes, tottenham hotsur career already. yes, tottenham hotspurfans— career already. yes, tottenham hotspur fans will _ career already. yes, tottenham hotspur fans will have - career already. yes, tottenham hotspur fans will have been... i career already. yes, tottenham l hotspur fans will have been... he hotspurfans will have been... he was one of their great heroes, a fantastic player for tottenham, he was there when they got to the champions league final, moved to inter milan, a player playing at the very height of the game. and absolutely integral to danish football. the danes close to worship for christian eriksen, because he

was a world—class player they had produced from that country. also a man of real intellect as well. if you ever hear him speak english, it is very hard to detect any foreign accent. i would is very hard to detect any foreign accent. iwould imagine, i cannot speak italian, he is probably exactly the same speaking italian. yes, and player who seems very well liked and respected as well in his team and in his nation.— liked and respected as well in his team and in his nation. yes, one of those players _ team and in his nation. yes, one of those players who, _ team and in his nation. yes, one of those players who, when _ team and in his nation. yes, one of those players who, when he - team and in his nation. yes, one of those players who, when he was i team and in his nation. yes, one of| those players who, when he was put up those players who, when he was put up by those players who, when he was put up by the club in front of the press, you always side with relief because you are dealing with a gentleman. the big question now that he is ok or conscious _ gentleman. the big question now that he is ok or conscious and _ gentleman. the big question now that he is ok or conscious and stable i gentleman. the big question now that he is ok or conscious and stable in i he is ok or conscious and stable in hospital, all positive signs after a catastrophic medical incidents like that, the next question is the one

that, the next question is the one that fabrice muamba had to concede, the one that is playing career is over and that is the next worry for danish fans. does this mark the end of his playing career? 0r danish fans. does this mark the end of his playing career? or is it a one off and who can say? he is at dad with two kids and his partner was consoled on the pitch, it is that question now, that dilemma for any professional, do i continue with the thing i love all take this as a warning and look to other ways of developing the future? we warning and look to other ways of developing the future?— developing the future? we do not know if there _ developing the future? we do not know if there isn't _ developing the future? we do not know if there isn't medical- developing the future? we do not know if there isn't medical issue i know if there isn't medical issue there and that is something he will have to face over the next few months. and i know fort fabrice muamba, it was really tough. he was told pretty quickly that that was it, that he could not risk playing football again and had to find a new

course, a new direction. he went to university, studied journalism, course, a new direction. he went to university, studiedjournalism, he university, studied journalism, he is university, studiedjournalism, he is now making his way in the media. it will mean a new direction for christian eriksen. he was nearing the end of his career anyway, but i imagine he thought he would go on for a bit yet. he imagine he thought he would go on for a bit yet-— for a bit yet. he won the league with inter _ for a bit yet. he won the league with inter milan, _ for a bit yet. he won the league with inter milan, what - for a bit yet. he won the league with inter milan, what is - for a bit yet. he won the league with inter milan, what is the i for a bit yet. he won the league i with inter milan, what is the danish team like at the moment? what are its prospects in euro 2020? unfortunately i think this will have really hit them hard. psychologically, emotionally and also in terms of their playing resources, because he was the main man, the conductor, the guy who pulled all the strings on the pitch. i think a lot of people thought as denmark where the dark horses in this tournament. they won the euros in 1992 when they arrived very late into the competition after

yugoslavia were expunged and they won it then. and peter schmeichel was in goal, kasper schmeichel, his son, is in the goal of this time. lots of people saw historical connections to that, they were playing all of their games in the group stage at home in tobin hagan, but i think a lot of people thought they could progress there. —— at home in copenhagen. looking at the players as they gathered around the medical emergency, they look very shocked. it could go either way for them. they could say, right, we will knuckle down and play for christian, or it could undermine them. but one thing is for sure, they will be missing one of the best players in europe. jim missing one of the best players in euro e. , ~ missing one of the best players in euroe. ~ europe. jim white, football commentator _ europe. jim white, football commentator and - europe. jim white, football. commentator and columnist, europe. jim white, football- commentator and columnist, thank europe. jim white, football— commentator and columnist, thank you for speaking to us. shocking news but at least looking more hopeful thanit but at least looking more hopeful than it did half an hour or so ago. let me bring you up—to—date if you

have justjoined us