Netherlands vs Hungary UEFA Nations League match stopped after medical emergency in dugout

A medical emergency during Hungary's UEFA Nations League match against the Netherlands forced the game to be stopped.

Reports from the scene suggested a member of Hungary's technical staff was in need of treatment on the touchline, with the Hungarian FA later confirming the affected party was coach Adam Szalai. The match was stopped for what was thought to be around 10 minutes before play eventually resumed.

"Ádám Szalai fell ill in the first minutes of the Netherlands-Hungary match, but his condition is stable and he is conscious," a statement from the Hungary FA read. "Minutes ago, he was transported by ambulance to an Amsterdam hospital for examination."

Szalai, 36, won 86 caps for Hungary during his playing career. He joined Marco Rossi's coaching staff in October, having played his final match for the national team in 2022.

Players from both teams were seen looking on anxiously while medics attended to Szalai. In footage of the incident circulating on social media, referee Jesus Gil can be seen whistling before gesturing towards the two benches before an individual in UEFA-branded clothing is then seen urgently waving medical staff in the same direction.

Screens were put up as medics attended to the scene. Seven minutes were on the clock when play was stopped, and was restarted around the 20th minute.

When play was stopped, Hungary and Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai was seen putting an arm round team-mate Barnabas Varga. Varga was the subject of a medical emergency himself during Euro 2024, when he was stretchered off following a nasty collision with Scotland keeper Angus Gunn.

Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images) ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Not long after play was restarted, the Netherlands took the lead. Gil pointed to the spot after a VAR check, with Hungary's Tamas Nikitscher ruled to have handled in the box.

Wout Weghorst stepped up to beat goalkeeper Denes Dibusz from the spot. The score was still 1-0 when the board went up announcing 13 additional minutes at the end of the first half... with Cody Gakpo adding a second from the spot during that added time.

Going into the game, the Netherlands and Hungary were locked together on five points from four Nations League matches. Germany sat top of their league, and raced into a 3-0 half-time lead against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the night's other match.

Hungary host Germany in their final group game, with the Netherlands away in Bosnia. Whoever finishes second in the group will take on one of the group winners in March's Nations League quarter-finals.

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