Eamon Dunphy has described as ‘brutal’ UEFA’s treatment of the Denmark national team in the wake of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during their Euro 2020 opener against Finland.
Denmark talisman Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in last Saturday’s clash and was quickly worked on by the onrushing medics as the Danish players gathered around their star player.
The match was abandoned with five minutes left in the first half as Eriksen was brought to hospital.
Speaking on The Euro 2020 Show on Off The Ball, Dunphy was in disbelief at the options UEFA reportedly offered; an immediate restart, a restart at 12 noon the following day, or a final option to forfeit the game and lose 3-0.
He said: “I think Peter and Kasper Schmeichel both said that the ultimatum was given and the players were upset.
“You could see when Eriksen was on the ground how upset his teammates were and how dignified they were; they formed a protective wall around him so that people couldn’t see him, but they were crying.
“To make them go back onto the pitch and play 50 minutes more football I thought was brutal.
“The emotional toll that would’ve taken on the players would certainly have led anyone with any sense to say ‘these guys are not ready now to play another 50 minutes of football, it just isn’t possible’.
“Give each team a point and let’s say thank God Christian Eriksen is OK and that’s the big result."
Denmark manager Kasper Hjumland was also critical of UEFA and the stern options they gave Denmark in the face of a traumatic and uncertain time.
He said: “I think it was the wrong thing to make the decision between the scenarios in this case.
“The players didn’t know if they lost their best friend and they had to decide [whether to play].
“I have a feeling we shouldn’t have played, just get on the bus and go home and see what the next days brought.
"It was a tough message that the players had to try and make a decision. I have a sense that it was wrong that the players were put in this situation.”
