FIGC President Gabriele Gravina says Serie A clubs and the Italy national team will take first aid courses after the incident that involved Christian Eriksen.
The Inter midfielder collapsed during the first half of Denmark vs. Finland on Saturday. The Denmark doctor revealed Eriksen, a former Tottenham and Ajax midfielder, suffered a cardiac arrest.
The Denmark star was given urgent CPR on the pitch, but his friend and teammate Simon Kjaer gave him first aid preventing Eriksen from swallowing his tongue and giving him a heart massage.
Kjaer’s actions convinced the FIGC to organise first aid courses for Serie A and Italy national team players.
Eriksen passed medical exam without problem and said he hopes to ‘return soon’
“When Eriksen’s heart stopped, the same happened to the whole world of sport,” Gravina said at a press conference at Casa Azzurri.
“We can only appreciate what Kjaer did, if Eriksen is still alive it’s thanks to him. I wish Eriksen a speedy recovery.
“We are going to organize first aid courses during the pre-season with federal doctors coordinated by professor Paolo Zeppilli. It’s a program that the federal medical commission approved this morning.
“We will meet the clubs at their training grounds and we will begin with the national team at Coverciano in the coming days.”
FIGC, #Gravina: “#Eriksen? Il nostro cuore si è fermato con lui. Metteremo corsi obbligatori di primo soccorso agli atleti”https://t.co/mnH64zUkfa#ASRoma #RomanewsEU pic.twitter.com/srLMb3YLsQ
— Romanews EU (@romanewseu) June 14, 2021
Both Francesco Acerbi and Jorginho wished Eriksen a speedy recovery and said they hope to meet him soon on the pitch.
The Inter star is stable in hospital where he is undergoing further examinations. Denmark doctor Morten Boesen confirmed Eriksen suffered a heart attack, which reasons are still unknown.
Inter doctor Piero Volpi claimed Eriksen had passed his medical at both Inter and Tottenham without problems.