Fabrice Muamba

[Lineker]

Rather than using the FA Cup thread, this does warrants its own thread.

Here's the latest:

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba faces a crucial 24 hours in his fight for life, manager Owen Coyle has said.

The 23-year-old remains critically ill after collapsing during an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Tottenham.

He is being treated in the intensive care unit of the heart attack centre at the London Chest Hospital.

Coyle said: "It's very serious. There's no getting away from that. God willing, he makes it through."

Medics spent six minutes trying to resuscitate the former England under-21 international on the field after he fell to the ground with no other players around him.

The score was 1-1 when the match was abandoned after 41 minutes.

Coyle said: "Fabrice is critically ill. The next 24 hours are going to be absolutely crucial.

"We've obviously been inundated with people wishing him well and we hope that if everybody can pray strongly tonight that Fabrice is able to recover."

The club and the hospital issued a joint statement at 2130 GMT on Saturday saying: "Bolton Wanderers can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to the Heart Attack Centre at the London Chest Hospital where he is in a critically ill condition in intensive care.

"The club and hospital request that the media and public respect the family's privacy at this time."

Medical staff gave the former England Under-21 international mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and tried to revive him with a defibrillator.

In total, six medics were treating the player, who joined Wanderers from Birmingham in 2008 and has made 148 appearances for the club.

Both sets of supporters chanted Muamba's name as he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. ESPN, who were broadcasting the match, reported that he was not breathing as he was taken into the tunnel.

Referee Howard Webb called the visibly shaken players off the field after consulting with Coyle and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

After Muamba was taken to hospital, the match was abandoned.

The former Arsenal midfielder was accompanied in the ambulance by Coyle and club captain Kevin Davies.

Football Focus presenter Dan Walker had an exchange of text messages with Davies on Saturday evening.

"Encouragingly, he [Davies] said Fabrice is showing real fight which is the best possible news," Walker said.

"Kevin says he is not giving up and he's digging in and showing a bit of battle.

"The fact they got him breathing again makes you marvel at the work these paramedics, doctors and nurses do."

Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, who played with Muamba at the Gunners, posted on Twitter that he had visited his friend in hospital.

"Just left the hospital. Love you so much man! Keep fighting. Everybody please pray for him he's an amazing man and friend."

BBC Radio 5 live's chief football reporter Ian Dennis, who was covering the game at White Hart Lane, witnessed medics rushing to aid Muamba.

"When the medical staff arrived his face was on the turf," he said.

"You could see them using a defibrillator and he was [electronically] charged on at least two occasions. Everyone could see Fabrice Muamba was fighting for his life.

"If he does pull through it will be down to the quick actions of the medics."

Soon after the incident, messages of support flooded in for the former Birmingham player.

Spurs' Rafael van der Vaart was one of those on the pitch when Muamba collapsed. He tweeted: "Terrible what happened with Muamba during the game. We're all praying for him."

England international Jack Wilshere, who played with Muamba at Bolton, wrote: "Hope Muamba is OK. Thoughts with him."

Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte, who played in the Arsenal youth team with Muamba, said: "I seriously hope my best friend in football is OK. Stay strong bro, please please stay strong. God is with you remember that."

[Colly]

Bolton fans are putting flowers at the Reeboks remembrance bit. Sort of appreciate the sentiment but a bit pre-emptive for me. Whole thing feels far too much like waiting for the worst, which is horrible, he's in hospital and we have top doctors who save old buggers after heart attacks all the time. Hell, my grandads had two.

Come on Fabrice!

[Baddar]

I really hope the guy pulls through this. It's such a terrible thing to happen, and it's so sad that this isn't the only case of this kind over recent years.

[Lineker]

Update is apparently imminent on the Bolton website.

[Lineker]

Fabrice Muamba update

Issued at: 11.00am

Fabrice Muamba remains in a critical condition in intensive care in the Heart Attack Centre at The London Chest Hospital.

He was admitted to the hospital yesterday evening after collapsing at White Hart Lane, where he sustained a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup Quarter Final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and on route to The London Chest Hospital, where his heart eventually started working. As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anaesthetised in intensive care and will be for at least 24 hours. His condition continues to be closely monitored by the cardiac specialists at the hospital.

Bolton Wanderers Manager Owen Coyle said: "Fabrice's family have asked me to pass on their thanks for the many, many kind messages of support from not only Bolton fans but also fans from clubs across the country and abroad.

"All our thoughts and prayers are for Fabrice and his family at this time. The family would also like to thank the media for respecting their privacy at this time.”

No further updates are planned at this time.

[DavidMarrio]

Found out about it late last night when I was out. My thoughts are with his family and here's hoping for a speedy recovery

[Starvinho]

Thoughts and prayers to Muamba and his family, really hope the lad pulls through and makes a full and speedy recovery.

[Lineker]

The Premier League have confirmed that Bolton's scheduled match at Aston Villa on Tuesday has been postponed.

The move came following a request from the Lancashire club in the wake of Fabrice Muamba's admission to hospital on Saturday after he collapsed during his side's FA Cup quarter-final match at Tottenham.

It quickly became apparent the Bolton players were in no state to fulfil the fixture and the Premier League will rearrange the game at some point in the season.

"Following Fabrice Muamba's admission to hospital yesterday evening, the Premier League and Aston Villa have agreed to Bolton Wanderers' request to postpone the Barclays Premier League match between the two clubs scheduled for Tuesday 20th March," said the Premier League.

"The match will be rearranged at a future date following appropriate consultation with the clubs.

"The thoughts of the Premier League, its clubs and players are with Fabrice Muamba, his family and Bolton Wanderers at this difficult time."

[Quom]

He's doing well. Everyone I know or have heard of (which sadly is quite a few) with congenital heart defects that have had random heart attacks have died. My first experience with human death was my sister's music teacher who was probably 24-25 and just keeled over in the music room one day. Fortunately it was after hours so none of us kiddies were about. So I'm really hopeful he makes it.

[Dan]

[Dan]

Bit worried watching SSN.

[Summers]

Why?

[The Lusophone]

I think some people are expecting him to kneel (keel?) over over at any time, like with Puerta was it?, but on an extreme delay I s'pose.

Be such an awesome thing if he does come back and play again.

[MDK]

I just realised that he is at the same hospital that my step Dad goes to. They really are very good there. If they can keep Peters ticker going then they can keep anyones going.

[Colly]

Bit worried watching SSN.

Just on that I've not enjoyed any of the coverage so far. I know I'm not supposed to, but everything just feels like they're expecting the worst, which is a horrible way of looking at things. Even the pre-match claps jar with me, the man isn't dead, and if all goes well he'll be fine. Let's stay hopeful for a change.

[Lineker]

Stoke have offered to postpone their game against us at WHL on Wednesday if we feel that we're not ready to play on the same pitch only four days later, which is a nice gesture from them.

[Adam]

Steve Kean has also said that he and Blackburn are happy to call off the match with Bolton at the weekend if the club are not ready to play yet.

Kevin Davies has made a good point about what it takes to unite football supporters and how it is a sad state for the game that this is what it takes.

"The last couple of nights have been mixed emotions - it is the first time in 19 years that I've seen a football stadium unite.

"It was both touching but sad as well. We put a lot of hours in as footballers and it seems that the only way you get applause from opposition fans is being carried off on a stretcher. That's a sad state of the game.

"It was proved on Saturday that the fans can unite. You've seen the support we are getting around the world. The family are very grateful for the support.

"We are all fans of football. I look at other sports and there is no segregation. I'd love to see more of that football."

As for how people are reacting - leaving shirts, applause before games etc. I suppose it's because these are the only ways we know to express our feelings on this kind of thing publically. I haven't gotten the impression from these that people are just assuming/fearing the worst. I can't speak for SSN though as I have not seen any of their coverage.

[Dan]

Coyle/Gartside etc turning up in black suits this morning, just didn't like the way it all felt.

[Lineker]

So what if they were wearing black suits! I mean clearly that means they're ready for a funeral! Don't talk such rubbish.

[Dan]

So what if they were wearing black suits! I mean clearly that means they're ready for a funeral! Don't talk such rubbish.

I just didn't like watching it.

Fuck off Lineker.