Bafetimbi Gomis is “fine” after collapsing less than ten minutes into Swansea City’s Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.
The France international striker, who joined Swansea from Lyon last summer, fell to the ground soon after Nacer Chadli had just volleyed Spurs’ opening goal, as players made way for restart.
Gomis, 29, needed four minutes of medical attention before he was carried off the field in a stretcher, conscious and breathing with the aid of an oxygen mask.
He was able to acknowledge the rousing applause which greeted his departure and was replaced by Nelson Oliviera.
Gomis has a history of fainting as he has, on several occasions in the past, lost consciousness on the pitch, including three separate incidents since joining Lyon in 2004- the latest of which occurred while training with France in 2009.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had admitted he was “worried” at that time.
“We can’t not be worried, it scares you each time,” Aulas told ITele. “A vasovagal episode (fainting) is part of the things that can happen to people who have this type of constitution. It’s now three times that it’s happened. Yes, I’m worried.”
Good news from White Hart Lane, @BafGomis is fine and we’ll provide an update as soon as possible. #TOTSWA
— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) March 4, 2015
Swansea released a statement following the incident at White Hart Lane, ironically the same ground where the then Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest in an FA Cup last-8 match in 2012, saying: “Gomis is fine.”
The Welsh club again confirmed to BBC Radio 5 live that he was in a stable condition and that they understood the history of the player prior to Wednesday night.
“He went to hospital as a precaution but he is fine. That’s the main thing,” manager Garry Monk said.
“He just needed a minute but he was talking when he came off the pitch.
“We understand his history. He has had all the tests but it’s just part of his life, it’s what he’s been through growing up.”
A Swansea spokesman added: “It is something we have been aware of – it is something called a vasovagal condition.
“We have always been aware of it and it has happened before. He has had all the medical and cardiology tests with us.”
