UEFA stated that it treated “with the utmost respect” the situation generated after the loss of Danish Christian Eriksen in the Denmark-Finland match, which was resumed “only after both teams asked to finish it that afternoon.”
“The players' need for 48 hours of rest between games eliminated other options,” the agency said after criticism. shown by members of the Danish national team such as goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel on Monday.
“UEFA is sure that it has treated the matter with the utmost respect for the delicate situation and for the players. It was decided to resume the match only after both teams requested to end the match on the same afternoon. “ stated the body.
This Monday, the goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said that “the situation demanded that someone higher up say that it was not the time to make a decision. They put us in a position that I feel like they shouldn't have put us in, “he said.
Danish coach Casper Hjulmand said on Sunday that the decision to return to the field to play against Finland was a mistake, because “the players were in shock” and also Peter Moller, head of national teams of the Danish Federation, thought that it was not correct, although he assured that they did not receive any pressure from UEFA in this regard.
Eriksen continues this Monday admitted to a hospital in Copenhagen awaiting medical tests, after fainting in the 43rd minute of the match.
The player went into cardiac arrest and was clinically dead for a few seconds until he was resuscitated with a defibrillator, according to the details provided by the Danish medical officer, Morten Boesen.
The match was initially suspended by UEFA, but resumed almost two hours later. after checking his colleagues that he was well and the agreement of all parties involved, and ended with a 0-1 victory for Finland.
Gestures against racism
Regarding the gesture of kneeling in favor of equality made by the internationals of Belgium and England in their first matches, UEFA reiterated its “zero tolerance against racism” position and urged spectators to show respect for teams and footballers who kneel.
“UEFA has zero tolerance against racism and therefore any player who wants to claim equality between human beings by kneeling can do so,” he said.
For this reason, the organism “urges the spectators to show respect for the teams and the players who kneel.” “However, UEFA cannot take disciplinary action against a national association for the reaction of its fans to this initiative, given the applicable legal framework,” he added.
Two days ago in Saint Petersburg Russian fans attending Belgium-Russia whistled at the Belgian players as they knelt at the start of the match to denounce racism, a gesture also made by the English internationals on Sunday at the start of the clash against Croatia in Wemble, where more applause than boos was heard.
The English players already showed this attitude in several friendlies prior to the Eurocup, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the Scottish national team has already announced that it will repeat the gesture in the match that it will play against England on the 18th. EFE