The horrific episode in the first semi-final match of the English League Cup between Tottenham and Liverpool has scared fans around the world. Uruguayan midfielder of the London club Rodrigo Bentancur suddenly collapsed on the lawn, receiving a frightening injury.

The football player had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and urgently hospitalized. And the video of this episode spread across social networks.

Mysterious injury

Bentancur only recently returned to the team’s squad after being suspended, missing a total of seven matches due to a racist remark towards teammate and captain Heung-Min Son. The home match against the Merseysiders was only Rodrigo’s third after the expiration of his sentence. The midfielder appeared in the starting lineup, but his performance lasted less than six minutes.

At the very beginning of the game, Tottenham Hotspur took a corner, and at that moment the Uruguayan midfielder managed to get unstuck from three opponents who were guarding him during a set piece and move towards the ball. After taking a few steps, Bentancur tried to head the ball, but suddenly collapsed. Everything happened so quickly that it is still unclear whether Rodrigo lost consciousness due to a sudden movement of his neck or from hitting his head on the lawn.

Rodrigo Bentancur / Photo: © Harry Murphy – Danehouse / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

The football player first kicked his legs, and then lay motionless for a long time until the doctors surrounded him. The doctors began to give him first aid, and then put an oxygen mask on the Uruguayan and carried him off the field on a stretcher to the applause of the fans. In total, Bentancur played another nine minutes on the field before Brennan Johnson replaced him.

“I don’t quite understand how this happened.”

After the first half, Tottenham shared information about the player’s condition on social networks, writing that Rodrigo was undergoing a medical examination.

“We can confirm that Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further examination,” the north London club said on social media.

Without Bentancur, Tottenham managed to win with a minimal score thanks to a goal from Lucas Bergvall, but after the meeting the fans were more concerned about the condition of the Uruguayan.

“It was alarming, because a head injury is always a concern, but we think that at this stage everything will be fine with him,” head coach of the hosts Angelos Postecoglou reassured the fans in an interview with Sky Sports after the meeting.

He also added that he himself did not understand the nature of the footballer’s injury.

“I don’t want to speculate, because I don’t really know anything myself.” All I know is that he was conscious when they carried him off the field. And he was taken to the hospital for observation. But I don’t quite understand how this happened,” Postecoglou said.

Former Premier League referee and ex-head of PGMOL Keith Hackett, in turn, noted that the medical team did an excellent job. He also recalled that any English Championship stadium can boast of having an oxygen mask and everything necessary to provide first aid after another terrible injury – 20 years ago Petr Cech suffered a skull fracture.

“Following Cech’s injury, the CEO initiated a review which resulted in the Premier League appointing and ensuring the presence of a doctor and a senior paramedic at every game. In addition, a special ambulance is on duty at all matches.

Now oxygen, a defibrillator and appropriate head restraints have been provided. It was nice to see that all these procedures were available,” Hackett said.

Bentancur soon got in touch and stated that his health was not in danger. The football player spoke about his condition on social networks.

– Everything is fine! Thanks for the messages! Congratulations on your victory,” Bentancur wrote.