Christian Eriksen could be facing the end of his career, after Inter Milan said they must sell him. He is prohibited from playing in Italy as he has an implanted defibrillator.
Eriksen was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark against Finland at Euro 2020 in June, to regulate any further changes in his heartbeat.
Serie A rules prevent players from playing in competitive games with a defibrillator, meaning an Inter exit is almost certain, but Eriksen could theoretically continue his career in another country.
Italy bans players at both amateur and professional level from competing if they have any significant heart abnormalities, and Francesco Braconaro, a member of the Italian FA’s technical scientific committee, revealed the Dane must have it removed to play in Italian football again, as it will show he has no further heart problems.
Daley blind, Ajax’s defensive player, was also fitted for an ICD after being diagnosed as having heart muscle inflammation. However, he continues to play internationally for Holland and for the Eredivisie champions.
The world was stunned to see Eriksen on the pitch, stricken, during the European Championship tournament this year. Denmark players surrounded Eriksen, so that he couldn’t see while he was revived on the pitch.
Captain Simon Kjaer, the comforter for Eriksen’s partner Sabrina was praised, as well as Anthony Taylor, the English referee, for their swift and empathic responses to the tragic circumstances.
Inter Milan will have Christian Eriksen sold, as he cannot play with an implanted cardiac defibrillator
Eriksen plays for an Italian team that has strict rules about players who play after heart problems.
Inter reported that Eriksen suffered a serious injury in June 2021 during the European Championships. This caused him to be temporarily disabled from any sporting activity for the current year.
“Although the current condition of the player is not suitable for the achievement of sporting fit in Italy, it could be possible to attain the same in other countries where the player could resume competitive activities.”
During the game against Finland, Eriksen collapsed suddenly with no one near him, received immediate CPR treatment from medical staff and was then taken to hospital.
After suffering a cardiac arrest, Eriksen was fitted an ICD and was able to play for Denmark at Euro 2020
Eriksen, an ex-attacking Tottenham midfielder, had lined for his country against Finland.
However, images of his fall shocked the world. Team-mates were around him to keep him private.
Eriksen now has a implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to control his heart rhythm
The match was canceled just after 6pm that night. Eriksen was seen standing upright while being stretchered off with an oxygen mask placed on his mouth minutes later.
Before the Danish FA confirmed his consciousness, he was admitted to hospital. His agent Michael Schoots later revealed that he was able speak and talk while undergoing more checks.
After hearing the good news about Eriksen’s recovery the Denmark players decided that they would finish the match.
To support him, a huge ‘Eriksen ten’ shirt bearing his name was worn at the tournament
Eriksen was shown solidarity by fans of all kinds, who held banners and sang along with Eriksen’s songs.
After six days of treatment Eriksen was released and fitted with an ICD, (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator).
The ICD is connected via wires to the heart, and sends an electricity pulse to correct irregular rhythms.
Dr Scott Murray, a leading NHS cardiologist, said that Eriksen was unlikely to be able play for Inter again on the night of Eriksen’s collapse. This was due to Italy’s strict rules regarding people with heart conditions being allowed to take part in sports activities.
MailOnline was informed by Dr Murray that he believed it was the end of his career. The Italians stop people participating in sport if they are found to have a significant cardiac abnormality, it’s in law.
“They’ve been doing this for a long period, well beyond 20 years, and they’ve reduced cardiac arrest deaths in sport from more than 3 percent down to less than one percent.
“He (Eriksen), is from an Italian club. He must have had all of his tests before he began (playing for Inter). The Italians are the best at screening competitive athletes for heart disease.
Italy has the highest pre-participation screening. Although he tries to reduce the number of events, he still has an event. It can still happen, even if it isn’t on the screen.
Eriksen was part the Inter Milan side that won the Serie A title last campaign
He was at an August training camp with his team-mates, but it appears he will have no choice but to leave the club.
“It’s going for him to be difficult to eliminate, but he’s still going(be) that 0.01 percent of people who will still see something happen.
Blind was fitted a pacemaker in December 2019 after complaining of dizziness against Valencia in Champions League. However, he later collapsed against Hertha Berlin on August 2020.
However, he has been able to return to top-level soccer in a safe manner. Others are not so fortunate: Fabrice muamba retired from football after collapsing at the pitch while playing for Bolton.
Since joining Inter Milan from Tottenham Hotspur 18 month ago, the Danish midfielder has played 60 games. The 29-yearold helped the Italian side win the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years.
Eriksen played in England for six years and was a part of Spurs’ 300-plus victories.
Eriksen could leave Inter to return to Tottenham. He played for Tottenham between 2013 and 2020. Ajax is another alternative destination.
Eriksen has made 60 appearances for Inter, scoring eight goals. He was part the team that won the Serie A title in last season.
Eriksen’s Inter contract is valid until the summer 2024, but it seems that he may have a need to leave the club sooner than that.