EX-PREMIER LEAGUE star Moise Kean was rushed to hospital after collapsing on the pitch in distressing scenes.
The incident occurred during Fiorentina‘s Serie A clash with Verona today.
APMoise Kean was stretchered off the pitch during Fiorentina’s Serie A clash with Verona[/caption]
X / ocwsportKean was struck in the face by the knee of a rival player moments before he collapsed on the pitch[/caption]
X / Thermanmerman92Players from both sides gestured for medical staff to come over as he collapsed[/caption]
GettyHe was treated on the pitch by medics a second time[/caption]
GettyKean was then placed in a neck brace and stretchered into an ambulance before being taken to hospital[/caption]
Midway through the second half Kean fell to the ground moments after he was involved in a three-way collision with Verona duo Pawel Dawidowicz and Diego Coppola.
Kean had been grappling to take possession of the ball in front of Coppola before being pushed towards the ground.
Dawidowicz was running back to try and win the ball himself but was unable to stop his momentum, resulting in his knee clashing into Kean’s head.
The 24-year-old was left with a big gash above his left eye.
Play was stopped as he received treatment from Fiorentina medical staff, who patched him up with a black bandage wrapped around his head as he returned to the pitch.
However, moments after returning he fell to the floor again.
There were worrying moments when he was immobile on the pitch as players from both teams signalled for a stretcher or ambulance to come on to the pitch.
The former Everton star was placed in a neck brace before being lifted into an ambulance inside the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
A club statement from Fiorentina confirmed Kean had been taken to hospital.
It said: “ACF Fiorentina announces that the footballer Moise Kean, during the match against Verona, suffered a head trauma.
“The footballer is in hospital for tests.”
Reports in Italy said Kean was conscious during his trip to hospital.
He was replaced on the pitch by Nicolo Fagioli in the 67th minute.
The match ended 1-0 to Verona after an injury time winner from Antoine Bernede.
Fiorentina star Edoardo Bove was in the stands watching the game as the incident happened.
Bove, 22, was rushed to hospital in December after suffering a cardiac arrest in a match against Inter Milan.
He was nursed back to health by doctors and nurses and thanked them in a social media statement following his release.
The midfielder’s statement had read: “It’s in moments like these that I understand how genuine this sport truly is and how, beyond the results, competition and rivalries, we are all connected.
“Connected by a bond that, once created, grows stronger during challenging times becoming almost unbreakable.
“I have experienced it firsthand in these last few days: the affection I’ve received, the warmth of the fans, the support from team-mates and opponents and the closeness of the ENTIRE football world gave me incredible strength and courage.
“I felt surrounded by positive energy, which helped me stay calm and not feel the loneliness that often comes with situations like this.”
That game on December 1 was suspended before it was resumed from the 17th minute earlier this month.
Rarely-seen rules were enforced for the clash which left Fiorentina with only 14 senior players available for selection with six winter transfer signings ineligible to play.
On the flip side, stars from both sides who were supposed to be suspended were able to play due to them not being suspended at the time of the original fixture.
Fiorentina won the game 3-0 thanks to a second-half brace from Kean.
Bove was also in attendance at that game as he continues his recovery.
He is not allowed to play in Italian football after having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted.
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