Denmark's Christian Eriksen is being treated in Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet hospital. AP
Denmark's Christian Eriksen is being treated in Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet hospital. AP
Denmark's Christian Eriksen is being treated in Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet hospital. AP
Denmark's Christian Eriksen is being treated in Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet hospital. AP

Eriksen shows us football is about players, not politics


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When Danish footballer Christian Eriksen suddenly collapsed during a Euro 2020 match against Finland on Saturday, players near by knew immediately that something was seriously wrong. As cameras filmed the traumatised Danish team standing around Eriksen, everyone in the stadium and those watching on TV, feared the worst.

After a short time, Uefa, the European football association, confirmed that Eriksen was awake and stable in a nearby hospital. Both teams decided to play on "for Christian", said Peter Moller, a member of the Danish Football Union. But Finland's eventual victory was overshadowed by earlier scenes of Eriksen's distraught partner and colleagues.

Suddenly, all of the drama and politics of European football felt distant and insignificant. Spectators gave thought to the intense pressure to which young athletes subject themselves for our entertainment.

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku dedicated his opening goal against Russia to Eriksen, his Inter Milan teammate. EPA
Belgium's Romelu Lukaku dedicated his opening goal against Russia to Eriksen, his Inter Milan teammate. EPA
Fifa estimates sudden cardiac arrest could claim the life of one footballer every month

Doctors are yet to confirm the cause of Eriksen’s collapse – he was believed to be in perfect health – but early suspicion points to sudden cardiac arrest, a largely indiscriminate and frequently lethal medical emergency that stops the heart from beating, often without any warning. It is not as rare an event in football as many fans of the sport might think. According to Fifa, the world governing body for football, it is estimated to claim the life of one player every month globally.

Eriksen's collapse will top an already-turbulent football news cycle. A recent controversy over a proposal for a European Super League, a breakaway tournament for the continent's most famous clubs, was abandoned after generating huge discontent among fans and much commentary on where the future of the sport lies. And a new round of the culture wars continues to dog Euro 2020 as teams debate whether or not to "take the knee" before games in solidarity of the Black Lives Matter movement. As football fans are considered widely to embody the working-class voter, politicians have inevitably waded into both rows, often stoking the fires in the process.

Today, all is on hold as support for Eriksen pours in from across Europe and beyond. And while he appears to have been spared the worst, his recovery remains fragile – as does his career. In 2012, British footballer Fabrice Muamba almost died in similar circumstances after collapsing during an English FA Cup match between his club, Bolton Wanderers, and Tottenham Hotspur. He survived, despite his heart stopping for 78 minutes, but the then 23-year-old never returned to the game.

For better or worse, football, perhaps more than any other sport on the planet, has the power to stir passions far beyond concern for match results and fascination with the individual lives and accomplishments of its players. Now and then, all of those passions are united in a singular, shared emotion – as they were in the moments after Eriksen's fall. For the first time in a while, the football world paused, and contemplated the huge physical commitment – even sacrifice – of its many young players.

Schedule for show courts

Centre Court - from 4pm UAE time

Johanna Konta (6) v Donna Vekic

Andy Murray (1) v Dustin Brown

Rafael Nadal (4) v Donald Young

 

Court 1 - from 4pm UAE time

Kei Nishikori (9) v Sergiy Stakhovsky

Qiang Wang v Venus Williams (10)

Beatriz Haddad Maia v Simona Halep (2)

 

Court 2 - from 2.30pm

Heather Watson v Anastasija Sevastova (18)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) v Simone Bolelli

Florian Mayer v Marin Cilic (7)

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Gold'

Director:Anthony Hayes

Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAyan%20Mukerji%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Alia%20Bhatt%20and%20Amitabh%20Bachchan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results

4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.

5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass

5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar

6.20pm: Handicap;​​​​​​​ Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley;​​​​​​​ Musabah Al Muhairi

6.55pm: Handicap;​​​​​​​ Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea;​​​​​​​ Satish Seemar

7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea;​​​​​​​ Satish Seemar.

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Scoreline

Australia 2-1 Thailand

Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'

Changing visa rules

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.

The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Kerb weight: 1580kg

Price: From Dh750k

On sale: via special order