Bolton player Fabrice Muamba collapses on pitch during FA Cup match

Tottenham’s FA Cup game against Bolton Wanderers has been abandoned after Trotters midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed and stopped breathing.

Medics spent 10 minutes trying to resuscitate the player on the field before the players were called off by referee Howard Webb.

BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter Ian Dennis says the midfielder is fighting for his life.

Fabrice Muamba

The score was 1-1 when Muamba, 23, fell to the ground unchallenged in the 42nd minute of the first half before paramedics promptly rushed onto the pitch to provide resuscitation.

Medical staff gave Muamba mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and tried to revive him with a defibrillator.

He was taken on the pitch on a stretcher and ESPN reported that he was not breathing as he was taken down the tunnel.

The former Arsenal midfielder has been taken to hospital.

Referee Webb called the visibly shaken players off the field after consulting with managers Owen Coyle and Harry Redknapp.

Minutes later the match was abandoned.

Bolton released a statement saying: ‘Bolton Wanderers can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been taken to hospital following his collapse at White Hart Lane this evening during the FA Cup quarter-final.’

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The Football Association chairman David Bernstein said:

“On behalf of The FA, I would like to send our thoughts and prayers to Fabrice Muamba and his family this evening.

“Fabrice has played 33 times for England Under-21s, captaining Stuart Pearce’s side during this time and is a player, and more importantly, a person we care greatly for.

“We are in contact with Bolton Wanderers over Fabrice’s condition and are awaiting updates.”

Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said:

“At the moment we are all watching, waiting, hoping and praying. For all the football family it’s a terrible thing to see.

“This can happen on a pitch and it is one of the reasons why we insist all youngsters coming into the game have the ability to have heart screenings to avoid this happening.”

Fabrice Muamba began his career in the Arsenal youth ranks, making his first-team debut at the age of just 18 in a League Cup clash with Sunderland back in October 2005.

The following season, he headed to Birmingham City for a year-long loan spell, and after initially struggling under then manager Steve Bruce, the midfielder soon began to impress, even landing the club’s Young Player of the Season accolade.

A permanent switch beckoned, and while his second campaign at St Andrew’s may not have been as fruitful, with the club relegated from the Premier League, Muamba was to continue in the top flight as current club Bolton secured his services in a deal worth £5 million.

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