La Liga opening day tragedy averted as Sevilla player remains in critical condition.


Sevilla player Antonio Puerta remains in critical condition after the medical report issued by the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Seville on Sunday stated that:

Antonio Puerta remains under sedation in the intensive care unit, with assisted ventilation and haemodynamic instability.

The 22 year-old Spanish international collapsed while jogging back to his own side in the 35th minute of the La Liga opening match between home team FC Sevilla and Getafe. Puerta slumped on the floor and teammates as well as medical team experts rushed to his side, then struggled to keep his breath from siezing as the the player almost swallowed his tounge and may have chocked to death in the process. After being revived, Puerta walked with support to the dressing room, but fainted again after arriving the room and was rushed to hospital where he remains sedated and unconscious.

Reacting to the news, Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said:

The player's life was saved thanks to the rapid intervention of the club doctors and the Red Cross because he had a number of cardiac arrests. Despite the severity of the situation his situation appears to be evolving favourably and the doctors are becoming more optimistic.

FC Sevilla are one of the three top teams tipped to challenge strongly for this year's Spanish title, with FC Barcelona being top tip and Real Madrid also in contention.