Everton midfielder Andre Gomes suffered a horrific leg injury during the club’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park.
Son Heung-min, who was red-carded for the challenge in the 79th minute, was visibly distraught after seeing Gomes’ suspected broken leg and was on the verge of tears as he walked down the tunnel.
The players around Gomes immediately realised the extent of the injury, with medics attending to him on the pitch for six minutes before he was taken off the pitch on the stretcher.
Everton manager Marco Silva said he was waiting to hear the severity of the injury after the midfielder was taken to hospital.
“He’s gone to hospital,” Silva said. “Our medical staff are in control. “
Everton went on to equalise in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Cenk Tosun’s bullet header cancelled out Dele Alli’s earlier strike.
“This is a bad moment for us and our team – this was more than a football game,” Silva continued. “We will give all support to Andre and his family. As a group we have to stay together and show the spirit we showed following the incident.
“Our players now, they are sad, a tough moment for us in our dressing room and for Andre, but the spirit we showed after that moment on the pitch I think is a good answer for you.
“He is seriously injured but I am 100% sure Andre will become stronger as a football player and as a man, because he is a fantastic lad, a fantastic professional.”
The injury entirely overshadowed the game, with Tosun admitting a number of his teammates had nearly cried.
“Everybody is sad inside. Some players, they nearly cried,” the striker said. “He was in shock, his eyes were open so big. He was like crying, shouting and screaming.
“I just tried to hold him and speak to him. I tried to tell him to stay calm. We couldn’t understand him.”
Alli said that Son was still distressed after the final whistle, and that he found the South Korean crying when he returned to the changing rooms.
“I didn’t want to look too much at what happened,” said the England midfielder. “I want to send Andre my best wishes.
“Son is devastated and in tears – it’s not his fault. Son is one of nicest people you’ve ever met. He can’t even lift his head up, he’s crying so much.
“The injury does play on your mind during the match but you have to stay professional.”
