Rabat - Dutch football club Ajax has recognized its responsibility for providing “inadequate” medical treatment for Moroccan footballer Abdelhak Nouri after he collapsed on the field during a match in 2017.
Rabat – Dutch football club Ajax has recognized its responsibility for providing “inadequate” medical treatment for Moroccan footballer Abdelhak Nouri after he collapsed on the field during a match in 2017.
Ajax general manager Edwin van der Sar expressed regret for the club’s insufficient medical treatment of Nouri during a friendly game against Germany’s Werder Bremen.
The collapse caused the 21-year old footballer a permanent brain injury.
Quoted by British news outlet the Guardian, van der Sar said in a press conference: “We recognize our responsibility and liability for the consequences of this.”
He added that the club had been “convinced” that the footballer received proper care on the pitch.
Back in January, Dutch media revealed that Nouri’s collapse was caused by heart rhythm problems. According to Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad, tests conducted in April 2014 by Ajax revealed the presence of a heart disorder in the Dutch-Moroccan footballer.
The incident shocked his family, friends, teammates, and club, leading international footballers to show solidarity and support with the youngster.
The CEO of Ajax, former Manchester United star van der Sar, described the news as “terrible.”
“We feel enormously for his parents, siblings and other relatives,” van der Sar said. “The blow is also difficult for Ajax,” he said in October 2017.
The young footballer was one of the most talented young players in the Netherlands. He started his youth career in 2005 at the age of 7 and played for the Netherlands Under 15, Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, and Under 19 categories.
