Spanish match abandoned as player collapses with teammates in tears

A Spanish third-division match between Cordoba and Racing de Ferrol has been abandoned after a player collapsed on the pitch. An ambulance swiftly arrived and drove onto the playing surface to aid the Cordoba star, Dragisa Gudelj, and then took him to a nearby hospital once he had stabilised.

The central defender collapsed after ten minutes of the match, falling unconscious and leaving his teammates frightened. According to the Washington Post, Gudelj had suffered a cardiac arrest during the match, with paramedics having to perform CPR on the pitch to resuscitate him.

Cordoba stars cried as they watched their teammate undergo treatment, with members of staff and their opponents attempting to comfort the most distressed players. Gudelj then regained consciousness as he entered the ambulance, with the defender actually requesting to continue playing the match rather than seeking further examinations.

After Gudelj had left the pitch, the match officials held talks with players from both squads and a collective decision was made to abandon the game until the Serbian’s status was more clear and that they were informed that he was well.

The match may yet continue on Saturday evening, with the Racing team waiting in nearby facilities to receive the green light from the Royal Spanish Football Federation that they approve of the game being completed. The score was level at 1-1 at the time of Gudelj’s collapse following an early goal from Racing de Ferrol star Fran Manzanara and Cordoba’s headed equaliser through Jose Ruiz.

Despite his pleas, Gudelj was taken to the Reina Sofía University Hospital to be checked over, just a short drive away from Cordoba’s stadium, the Estadio Nuevo Arcangel.

Speaking to the media about the incident, Cordoba CEO Javier Gonzalez Calvo reassured fans about the status of the defender, telling the local press: “The player is stable, has suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest and is going to remain, logically, admitted.”