Inter Milan star Christian Eriksen has been banned from playing in Italy and may have to leave the reigning Serie A champions in order to resume his career.
The midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark ’s opening game of Euro 2020 against Finland, which saw medics bring him back to life with CPR and the use of a defibrillator.
After being admitted to hospital, Eriksen underwent surgery to have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device, or ICD, implanted.
An ICD is a type of pacemaker that prevents fatal cardiac arrests by discharging a jolt to the heart in order to restore a regular rhythm.
Though it was necessary for Eriksen to have the ICD implanted, the Italian Football Federation's technical scientific committee have previously made it clear that it would prevent him from playing.
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Back in August, Francesco Braconaro, who is director of the FIGC, clairified that Eriksen can play in Italy only if and when the ICD is removed.
“Right now, Eriksen could not be eligible to play. If the player’s ICT is removed because the pathology has been resolved, he can return to Inter,” he told Radio KissKiss Napoli.
The FIFC’s regulations cover Serie A, the Coppa Italia and any competition that takes in Italy, meaning Eriksen cannot yet be registered.
With no sign that the ICD is ready to be removed, Inter have revealed that they are now open to allowing the Danish international to depart.
“With reference to the registration rights of the player Eriksen, it should be noted that following a serious injury which occurred during the European Championship in June 2021, the player has been temporarily inhibited by the Italian medical authority from sporting activity in the current season,” the Serie A side said in a statement.
“Although the current conditions of the player don’t meet the requirements of achieving sporting fitness in Italy, the same could instead be achieved in other countries where the player could resume competitive activity.”
Inter went on to confirm that they could consider to ‘proceed with the sale of the player to a foreign team where the current conditions don’t exclude the possibility of obtaining eligibility’.
At the present time, it is unknown which countries and leagues would allow Eriksen to play with an ICD still implanted.
Inter could accept a cut-price deal for the 29-year-old, with his contract not expiring until the summer of 2024.
His final game for Inter saw him put in a man-of-the-match performance in their final game of last season against Udinese.
He scored once and assisted another as Inter capped their Serie A-winning campaign in style with a 5-1 win.
Though he is unable to play in matches, Eriksen has been at the training ground regularly since the start of the season.
Simone Inzaghi’s side are currently third in Serie A, seven points back from leaders Napoli following the first ten games of the season.
Their next match will come on Sunday lunchtime when they host Udinese.
