Italy rules out return of Eriksen as long as he has a defibrillator implant

July 23 – Christian Eriksen will not be allowed to play in Italian football with a defibrillator, a leading scientific expert for the Italian FA has said. 

On the second day of Euro 2020, the Inter Milan star collapsed in Denmark’s match against Finland and required CPR from pitch-side medics before he was hospitalised and ruled out of the tournament. The remainder of his football career however remains in doubt following his cardiac arrest.

The 29-year-old midfielder had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) inserted in his chest to regulate any further disturbances in his heartbeat.

But that may prevent him from playing for Inter Milan again. Italy bans players with significant heart abnormalities from competing both at the amateur and professional level.

Francesco Braconaro, a member of the Italian FA’s technical scientific committee, has made it clear the Dane will have to remove the defibrillator if he wants to play again in Serie A.

Braconaro told Radio Kiss Kiss: “Christian Eriksen cannot be given the all-clear to play in Italy.

“If the player has the defibrillator removed, therefore confirming the pathology can be resolved, then he can return to play for Inter.”

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1710830834labto1710830834ofdlr1710830834owedi1710830834sni@i1710830834tnuk.1710830834ardni1710830834mas1710830834