The fourth official Kevin Friend was taken to hospital after suffering a bloodied nose when collapsing and banging his face on the dugout at the Vitality Stadium during Bournemouth’s win over Southampton on Tuesday evening.
Friend collapsed in the closing seconds of the first half, prompting the referee Mike Dean to blow for half-time. The fourth official was treated on the side of the pitch and the start of the second half was delayed by five minutes while his replacement – the non-league referee Dean Treleaven, a spectator in the crowd who was pressed into action – got ready.
Friend was taken to hospital, where he stayed overnight for observations as a precaution.
The Southampton manager Ronald Koeman said he believed Friend briefly lost consciousness in the incident at the tailend of the first half of Bournemouth’s 2-0 Premier League win.
“I was on the bench and he came to us and he fell against the dugout, with his nose, and then fell to the ground,” Koeman said. “I don’t know his situation now, but he for maybe five seconds he was out of everything.”
The Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe offered his best wishes to the 44-year-old official for a speedy recovery. “I just saw him collapse near us,” the 38-year-old said. “I didn’t see him before it. I just saw him dazed afterwards.
“Medical people from both sides looked after him. We obviously wish him well, but I’m not entirely sure what went on.”
Steve Cook and Benik Afobe scored as Bournemouth beat Southampton in the league for the first time since 1958.
