Schmeichel: players didn’t want to restart game after Eriksen collapsed

Father of Denmark goalkeeper Kasper said he did not think the players had a choice

Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand talks to his players during their Euro 2020 match against Finland in Copenhagen. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/AP

Former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel claims Denmark's players did not want to restart their Euro 2020 game against Finland after Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest.

Schmeichel, father of Leicester and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, told ITV's Good Morning Britain that he did not think the players had a choice.

When asked if it was the players’ decision for the game to be restarted after Eriksen had been taken to hospital, Schmeichel said: “Well that’s an interesting debate.

“I actually saw an official quote from Uefa yesterday saying that they were following the advice of the player, the players insisted on playing — I know that not to be the truth.”

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The former Manchester United and Manchester City goalkeeper added: "Or, it's how you see the truth. They were left with three options, one was to play immediately and get the last 50 minutes played.

“The next one was to come in yesterday at 12 noon and finish the 50 minutes and the third option was to forfeit the game, 3-0.

“So work it out for yourself. Is it the players’ wish to play? Did they have any choice really? I don’t think they had.

“As you can hear from yesterday’s press conference, the coach, he seriously regrets putting the players back on to the pitch.”

Eriksen collapsed on Saturday during the first half of Denmark’s opening match and was treated on the pitch before being taken to hospital.

Denmark’s team doctor Morten Boesen later confirmed Eriksen was stable having suffered a cardiac arrest and that “he was gone” prior to being resuscitated.

Eriksen’s team-mates formed a shield round him while he was being treated on the pitch and Peter Schmeichel is concerned how the incident will impact Denmark’s players .

He added: “It’s very difficult to say exactly what the longer-term impact will be (for the players) from that experience, which I know having spoken to Kasper was very traumatic for everyone.

“It’s a very dramatic scene when someone has to be defibrillated and shocked back to life.”