The Nations League match between the Netherlands and Hungary on Saturday evening was halted early in the first half due to a medical emergency on the touchline.
Just seven minutes were on the clock when match officials were alerted to an urgent situation on the Hungary bench. Coaches and substitutes rushed to help as others formed a protective ring around the individual affected to shield them from view.
A physical barrier was then erected as the person received medical treatment on the ground of the dugout before being taken down the tunnel. Neither team has yet provided an update on their current condition.
Hungary captain Dominik Szobiszlai, who plays his club football for Liverpool, was spotted wiping tears from his eyes while the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam fell practically silent.
Tonight’s incident comes less than five months after Hungary striker Barnabas Varga suffered a serious injury at Euro 2024. The 30-year-old’s head made contact with the shoulder of Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn, leaving him with a fractured cheekbone and a concussion.
Screens were put up to shield Varga from view as the game was delayed for 10 minutes. Manager Marco Rossi said after the match: “Varga is okay. Unfortunately he will be operated on because he suffered a fracture. We will see. If we progress in the tournament for sure he will not be with us.”
After a 10-minute break, officials restarted the Nations League Group A3 match. And the Netherlands were almost immediately awarded a penalty, which was converted by Wout Weghorst.
Hungary have found it tough in the Nations League’s top division, with their only victory in four games prior to their Amsterdam tip coming against winless Bosnia and Herzegovina last month. Szoboszlai and co. drew at home to the Netherlands, contested a stalemate at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and were thrashed 5-0 in Germany.
Their final clash of the campaign will come at home to Germany on Tuesday, but long-serving manager Marco Rossi may not need anything from the tie to avoid relegation if Bosnia and Herzegovina are already guaranteed to finish bottom of the group by that point.
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