Christian Eriksen will not be allowed to play for Inter in Serie A unless he has the defibrillator removed, warned a member of the Italian Federation’s medical committee.
The CTS (technical scientific committee) of the FIGC has been focused largely on the pandemic response in recent years, but is also forced to consider the status of midfielder Eriksen.
His heart stopped during Denmark’s UEFA EURO 2020 match against Finland and he had surgery several days later to implant a small defibrillator, in case of further cardiac irregularities.
“Christian Eriksen cannot be given the all-clear to play in Italy,” warned CTS member Francesco Braconaro on Radio Kiss Kiss.
“If the player has the defibrillator removed, therefore confirming the pathology can be resolved, then he can return to play for Inter.”
Daley Blind has a similar implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and can play for the Netherlands and Ajax, but would not be given the go-ahead in Serie A.
If Eriksen wants to resume his playing career, it therefore cannot be at Inter under the current circumstances.
There are very strict rules in Italy on who is allowed to be a professional athlete, with tests performed by the Federation and not the clubs.
Despite these checks, there have nonetheless been deaths in the sport from undiagnosed cardiac issues.
Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini collapsed and died during a Serie B match in April 2012, aged 25.
Fiorentina captain Davide Astori died in his sleep in March 2018, at the age of 31.