The world of sport is truly unpredictable. It's almost as if anything can happen. Athletes aren't immune to danger. They are also susceptible to unforeseen problems. This also applies to fans. Some fans are just those who support the team and want to see them personally on the field. Unfortunately, others can be classified as hooligans. These fans will quite literally do anything to get into the stadium and nothing will hold them back. Their actions are often unspeakable.
It's unfortunate, then, that these two things happened this past weekend. In Italy, a Florentina player collapsed while there was a stampede in N'Zérékoré, Guinea that left people dead.
Florentina were playing a home match against Inter Milan. Everything was fine until the 17th minute. It was at this point that one of their midfielders, Edoardo Bove, dropped to the floor. He was intially attended to on the field but had be transported to a medical facility almost immediately.
Preliminary reports suggested that a blow to the torso sustained during a challenge with Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries may have been the cause of Bove’s collapse. Local media detailed how Bove complained of dizziness to the coaching staff while putting on his new jersey on the bench.
The incident occurred rapidly; just moments after the collision and before a goal by Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) was disallowed for a possible offside. Bove lost consciousness. Video footage shows that Bove seemed to be trying to regain his composure; rather than simply tying his shoelaces.
From the moment Bove collapsed at the "Artemio Franchi" Stadium until his arrival at the hospital, only 13 minutes had passed.
There were tense moments in the stadium, with some players expressing frustration at the medical staff for not bringing the ambulance onto the pitch. However, all actions taken by the medical team were executed flawlessly, according to established protocols.
The medical team reached Bove’s location within just 30 seconds, provided four minutes of on-field assistance, another four minutes in transit to the hospital and five minutes to get him settled in the intensive care unit where he was stabilised during the first night.
Giovanni Ghini, President of the Fratellanza Militare di Firenze, the organisation responsible for the ambulance that transported Bove to Careggi University Hospital in Florence, said, "We were organised and did not improvise. This was decisive."
"The ambulance did not enter the field due to the risk of it being unable to exit due to the playing surface. It could have become stuck. The medical teams inside the stadium are equipped with the same gear as the ambulance, carrying everything in their backpacks. We are thoroughly trained, including from an emotional standpoint," he added, speaking to several local media outlets.
The critical portion of the incident unfolded inside the ambulance, where the medical team employed a defibrillator to revive Bove, who arrived unconscious but still breathing. Ghini further explained, "He was not conscious. During transit, they defibrillated and performed resuscitation maneuvers: the situation was serious, but his heart was beating upon arrival at the hospital."
*The video below may disturb sensitive viewers.
On the pitch, team-mate, Danilo Cataldi, intervened moments before the medical team arrived, inserting his hand into Bove's mouth in an attempt to prevent him from choking on his tongue. However, this action was discouraged for future instances.
He stated, "It is important to clarify. While we appreciate the gesture, the maneuver involving inserting fingers into Bove's mouth is highly inadvisable for two reasons."
"The first is that the patient can suddenly close their mouth, thereby risking severe injury to the fingers. The second is that injuries can occur inside the mouth at that moment, which can be difficult to manage in a patient in that state. We appreciate the gesture, but I want to emphasize the importance of taking first aid courses. It only requires a few hours of training, but those hours can save lives," he concluded.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported a ‘shocked’ José Mourinho called Edoardo Bove’s parents after seeing the Italian midfielder collapse during the Florentina-Inter match on Sunday. Former Roma and Inter coach, Mourinho, has called Bove’s parents to have updates on the health of the Fiorentina midfielder.
According to Gazzetta, Mourinho was ‘shocked’ to see Bove suddenly fall to the ground on Sunday, so he wanted to speak directly with the player’s family to understand what happened and the latest developments.
Mourinho was reassured that Bove was ‘awake, alert and oriented’ on Monday, the day after the medical emergency at the Stadio Franchi. Bove played 72 games at Roma under Mourinho, more than with any other coach in his career, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
It's wonderful to hear that Bove is no longer in danger after the 22-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during Sunday's game against Inter Milan. The Roma loanee is still under observation at Careggi Hospital as tests continue but Florentina general manager, Alessandro Ferrari, gave a positive update on Bove after the Florentina squad and top brass visited him in the hospital on Monday. The Italian midfielder also urged his team-mates to return to the field for the Coppa Italia clash against Empoli tomorrow (4 December).
Speaking to Sky Italia, Ferrari said: "[Bove] managed to talk to the team, he convinced them to play on Wednesday [against Empoli in the Coppa Italia]. "We will take to the field immediately on Wednesday because there is a desire to get back to life quickly, thanks also to the enthusiasm that Edoardo has transmitted to us.
"We are much happier and more relaxed than yesterday. We saw the boy this morning, we spoke to him together, he is lucid, alert, with his desire to laugh and joke. The situation obviously must remain under control, it is something that will have to continue in the coming days, but the boy is fine."
Reports have suggested that the 22-year-old did not suffer any sort of acute cardiac, neurological or respiratory damage after the incident, which saw him collapse on the pitch in the first half.
Down south and to Guinea, over 50 people have been killed as a result of a controversial refereeing decision which reportedly sparked violence on Sunday. The incident occurred during a friendly match between the city of N’Zérékoré and the city of Labe.
The match was being played to honour the country’s military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, in N’Zérékoré, the 78th FIFA-ranked nation.
A disputed referee decision in the 82nd minute of the match reportedly sparked the violence. Media reports in Conakry reported that security forces had tried to use tear gas to restore calm after the chaos that followed a disputed penalty call.
"The disputed penalty angered supporters who threw stones. This is how the security services used tear gas," reported local media in Guinea. They further stated that several of those killed were children while some of the injured being treated at a regional hospital were in critical condition.
CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, sent his condolences. A statement read, "The Confédération Africaine de Football Président Dr Patrice Motsepe, is deeply saddened by the stadium stampede in Guinea that has reportedly claimed the lives of over 50 football fans and left others injured during a football match at the Stade du 3 Avril in N’Zérékoré."
"The tragedy occurred during a friendly football tournament between the city of N’Zérékoré and the city of Labe. CAF President Dr Motsepe conveys his and CAF’s deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the Fédération Guinéenne de Football (“FGF”) Leadership and the people of Guinea."
“Dr Motsepe also wished a speedy recovery to the injured football fans. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace."
Outside the N'Zérékoré morgue on Monday, 2 December, dozens of families were waiting to identify the bodies of their loved ones. They were also demanding answers as to how the football match that took place the previous day at the stadium in the city, Guinea's second largest, could have turned into a deadly trap for dozens, if not hundreds, of supporters. As of Monday evening, the provisional death toll stood at 56, with several others injured.
"The morgue is full," said a local doctor speaking anonymously to Agence France-Presse, estimating that "there [were] around 100 dead." Several photos and videos circulating on social media show inert bodies on the floor inside the morgue.
Two refereeing incidents derailed the match, which was attended by a government delegation represented by the minister of youth and sport and the minister of agriculture. First, a red card midway through the second half, eventually rescinded after one of the ministers intervened with the referee. Then, there was a contentious penalty, whistled in the last 10 minutes. This decision provoked the fury of Labé fans. Stones were thrown and the pitch was invaded.
Law enforcement officers then fired tear gas, according to several sources inside the stadium, which provoked a large crowd movement.
Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, a journalist covering the game for a local sports website said. "The gates, that’s where the stampede happened," said Cissé Lancine, who got away by climbing over one of the stadium walls. "I was saved because I did not rush towards the exit."
Lancine said between 20 000 and 30 000 people were present at the Third of April stadium to watch the local Labe and N'Zérékoré teams compete in the final of the first national tournament honouring military leader Mamadi Doumbouya.
"Supporters threw stones. This is why the security services used tear gas," reported Media Guinea, which also wrote that several of the dead were children and some of the injured were in critical condition.
Enock Loua, a resident of N'Zérékoré, learned over the phone that his niece, Aline Olivier, had been killed. He said, "We have a hard time realising what happened to us, it is as if the sky has fallen on our heads."
Authorities are trying to establish who was responsible, Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, said on national television. Guinea’s leader announced three days of national mourning starting on Tuesday, in a presidential decree read on national television.
These two events are extremely tragic. These two are on different spectrums: while one ends with relief and happiness, the other ends in tears and sorrow. The well-being of any athlete takes precedence over anything else. It's important for everyone to come together when something like this happens to someone.
There was no need for the hooliganism in N'Zérékoré. The fans should've just accepted the decision and move on. It was just a friendly after all. What I find shocking and heartbreaking was that even children were killed. They still had their whole life to live out.