Bournemouth vs Luton replay latest news after Tom Lockyer collapse
Luton defender Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during the Hatters’ Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday. In a distressing incident, the 29-year-old collapsed in the centre circle midway through the second half with the score level at 1-1.
Lockyer received lengthy treatment from members of both medical teams and was taken to hospital. It is reported that he was awake when he was taken from the field of play on a stretcher.
It comes a little over six months after Lockyer collapsed on the pitch during the Championship play-off final. After that incident, Lockyer underwent heart surgery and was cleared to play upon Luton’s promotion to the Premier League.
The centre-back is reported to be recovering in hospital and is responsive. Here is everything you need to know about what happens next…
READ MORE: Ian Wright to quit Match of the Day as BBC pundit issues statement
When was Bournemouth v Luton abandoned?
Lockyer collapsed in the middle of the pitch at the Vitality Stadium just after the hour mark. The clock was subsequently stopped on 65 minutes and the match was abandoned 20 minutes later, with neither team willing to continue.
Luton had led through Elijah Adebayo’s early goal but Bournemouth equalised through Dominic Solanke. The final 30 minutes were not played with the match abandoned by referee Simon Hooper.
Luton confirmed afterwards that both sets of players and staff were in agreement that they were in no state to continue the match after seeing their colleague rushed to hospital under extremely serious circumstances.
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
Will the match be replayed?
Football matches in England are generally replayed in their entirety if they are abandoned at any point in the game. There is very little precedent for matches in this country to be replayed from the minute of the abandonment and with the same scoreline.
It means that, in all likelihood, Bournemouth will face Luton in a 90-minute match with the 1-1 scoreline annulled.
The Football Association’s rule book says: “An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise.”
All 20 Premier League clubs must have results from their 38 matches to complete the Premier League table at the end of the season.
When will the match be replayed?
With neither club competing in European competition, it makes rescheduling the match slightly easier. There are several available midweek options available to the Premier League and both clubs.
Given the sensitivity of the situation and the proximity to the busy Christmas schedule, we could be looking at a replay some time early in the New Year.
What have Luton said?
Luton posted on social media platform X: “Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher. He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides.
“Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoing further tests with his family at his bedside.”
They added: “We thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.
“We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.”
Source: Read Full Article