BBC apologises for ‘inexcusable’ footage
The BBC has apologised after football fans slammed the broadcaster for not cutting away after Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener with Finland.
The former Spurs midfielder received CPR surrounded by his worried teammates — and the broadcaster continued filming.
One viewer described the move as “unacceptable” while another said the BBC had “traumatised an entire nation”.
Another tweeted: “I’m not sure why they didn’t stop the cameras & go straight to the studio as soon as they saw he was getting CPR.
“I feel physically sick having watched this in real time. God I hope he’ll pull through. Only 29.”
While one commented: “BBC need to think harder about privacy issues and react better when something this horrendous happens live on TV.
“Unacceptable to broadcast wife crying and a man receiving CPR.”
Former England footballer Ian Wright weighed in: “CUT TO THE STUDIO FFS!!!!”
BBC could and should have stopped the host feed and gone back to the studio far earlier. Inexcusable. https://t.co/Qoou07JIte
Filming a crying wife, crying teammates and worst of all the face of someone actively receiving CPR is abhorrent. Whether or not the BBC chose the cameras, they still streamed it.
Thoughts, prayers and everything else with Christian Eriksen and his family ❤️
A man collapsed under circumstances that were extremely disturbing but sure let’s argue about whether the BBC should have cut away or not (when they obviously should have — they control their output)
CUT TO THE STUDIO FFS!!!!
The BBC has apologised after the flood of complaints.
“We apologise to anyone who was upset by the images broadcast,” a spokesperson said.
“In-stadium coverage is controlled by UEFA as the host broadcaster, and as soon as the match was suspended, we took our coverage off air as quickly as possible.”
The shocking scenes happened towards the end of the first half of the match.
Upset fans in Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium looked on in horror as medics tended to the former Inter Milan ace.
His distraught teammates formed a circle around him, with some in tears.
UEFA announced the Group B game was suspended due to a “medical emergency”.
English referee Anthony Francis signalled immediately for medical staff to come onto the pitch after Eriksen collapsed.
As well as filming his medical treatment, football fans blasted the BBC for showing Eriksen’s wife crying.
Sabrina Kvist Jensen was seen in tears while being consoled by Danish players after she rushed down to the pitch.
Christian Eriksen’s teammates call for medical help.Source:Getty Images
Finland’s players look dejected.Source:Getty Images
BBC coverage of the game ended after the distressing scenes were shown to viewers across the country.
Commentator Jonathan Pearce said: “The pictures you are seeing here in the Parken Stadium in Denmark are terrible.”
Both teams left the field with officials holding up sheets to hide Eriksen from view.
The stadium announcer told fans that the game had been suspended due to a medical emergency and to stay in their seats.
UEFA later released a statement saying Eriksen is in hospital in a “stable condition”.
There has been an outpouring of messages from wellwishers for Eriksen following this evening’s distressing images.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford tweeted a prayer and a Danish flag emoji, while former Spurs striker Gary Lineker posted: “Thank heavens. Some hope. Thoughts are with him and his family.”
A Spurs spokesperson tweeted: “All of our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family.”
Fabrice Muamba, the former Bolton midfielder who collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest during a televised FA Cup game in 2012, tweeted “Please God” following the incident.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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