Another Sporting Tragedy

[Bogball XV]

UEFA have postponed Tuesday night's Champions League qualifier between AEK Athens and Sevilla after the death on Tuesday of the Spanish club's defender Antonio Puerta.

The 22-year-old Spain international collapsed on the pitch during the weekend game against Getafe and, though he was able to walk off, suffered a relapse in the dressing room and required cardiac resuscitation.

It is believed the first-team squad is currently flying back to Spain from Greece.

Puerta has been a member of the Sevilla first team for three seasons and spent 14 years in total with the Andalusian club he joined as a boy.

Earlier in the day, doctors confirmed Puerta's condition had deteriorated. Dr Francisco Murillo, head of the intensive care unit at the hospital, said: "The condition of patient Antonio Puerta is not favourable due to the progression of the postanoxic brain injury and the multiple organic dysfunction caused by the prolonged cardiac arrest that led to his admission to hospital."

UEFA have postponed Tuesday night's Champions League qualifier between AEK Athens and Juande Ramos' side.

The Sevilla squad is currently flying back to Spain from Greece.

Puerta, whose girlfriend is pregnant, had been a member of the Sevilla first team for three seasons and spent 14 years in total with the Andalusian club he joined as a boy.

A later statement from Dr Murillo confirmed the death. It read: "We regret to announce that the patient Antonio Puerta died at 14.30 (local time) as a consequence of postpanoxic encephalopathy and multiorganic dysfunction provoked by the cardiac arrest."

ANTONIO PUERTA FACTFILE


1984: November 26 - Born Seville, Spain.

2002: Joins Sevilla 'B' team.

2004: September 19 - Makes his Primera Liga debut as a substitute in 3-0 win over Levante.

November - Starts his first match for Sevilla senior side and scores opening goal in 2-1 defeat to Numancia.

2006: Became a regular in Sevilla side, playing over 25 games in all competitions.

April - Scores extra-time winning goal in UEFA Cup semi-final victory over Schalke.

May - Picks up UEFA Cup winner's medal despite missing out on 4-0 final win over Middlesbrough.

2007: May - Plays full 120 minutes as club clinch second consecutive UEFA Cup with win on penalties in final against Espanyol.

June - Helps Sevilla finish third in La Liga, making 46 appearances during season.

August 25 - Collapses on pitch 35 minutes into first match of 2007/08 campaign against Getafe. Though able to walk off, he suffers a relapse in the dressing room and requires cardiac resuscitation after being rushed to hospital.

August 28 - After three days in intensive care, passes away aged 22.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/07/08/28/SOCCER_Spa-Puerta_Lead.html

[Gabriel_Hurl]

Not looking good

Nottingham Forest's Carling Cup tie at home to Leicester was abandoned at half-time after defender Clive Clarke collapsed in the dressing room.

Paramedics rushed down the tunnel to attend to Clarke shortly after the half-time whistle.

A Leicester spokesman said the player was receiving medical attention in an ambulance and was conscious.

The restart was initially delayed before the referee called off the game, with Forest leading 1-0.

Forest boss Colin Calderwood and Leicester manager Martin Allen then emerged from the tunnel to make an announcement to the crowd.

Calderwood said: "We are afraid that due to the serious illness of a Leicester player both clubs have agreed to postpone the match."

The Reds held a 1-0 lead over their east midlands counterparts courtesy of Junior Agogo's 31st-minute strike.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Not looking good

Nottingham Forest's Carling Cup tie at home to Leicester was abandoned at half-time after defender Clive Clarke collapsed in the dressing room.

Paramedics rushed down the tunnel to attend to Clarke shortly after the half-time whistle.

A Leicester spokesman said the player was receiving medical attention in an ambulance and was conscious.

The restart was initially delayed before the referee called off the game, with Forest leading 1-0.

Forest boss Colin Calderwood and Leicester manager Martin Allen then emerged from the tunnel to make an announcement to the crowd.

Calderwood said: "We are afraid that due to the serious illness of a Leicester player both clubs have agreed to postpone the match."

The Reds held a 1-0 lead over their east midlands counterparts courtesy of Junior Agogo's 31st-minute strike.

Seems that it was a cardiac arrest.

[mannix]

Why would a healthy man have a cardiac arrest?  I hope he is ok, that condition might stop him competing again when such hard training and high speed heartbeats are required.

[Bensars]

Why would a healthy man have a cardiac arrest?  I hope he is ok, that condition might stop him competing again when such hard training and high speed heartbeats are required.

Heard oin the news he was in a comfortable condition. In regards of healthy=fit and heart disease, they are two completely different entities. Look at the screening carried out now due to the untimely death of Cormac Mc Anallen.

I would also assume that the medical carried out by professional clubs would be detailed, unfortunatley sometimes conditions can be missed or indeed be of late onset