French professional footballer Martin Terrier who plays for Ligue 1 club Rennes was substituted on Sunday during his match against Nice after experiencing chest pains.
This is the third incidence in a matter of days of a top European football player being seen clutching their chest mid-game and being unable to continue playing.
The rash of high-profile scares has led to questions about whether the incidences of players being taken off the field for heart and breathing problems is due to COVID vaccine adverse events.
Victor Lindelof, Piotr Zielinski, and Martin Terrier were all struck by chest pain and breathing difficulties during their games this weekend.
30 minutes into the game against OGC Nice, Terrier bent over and appeared to be struggling to breathe. Medics rushed onto the pitch as the 24-year-old pointed to his chest, in obvious distress. He was taken off the field of play shortly after.
The incident comes after the young striker had scored his first league hat-trick (3 goals in one game) in his career against Saint-Éttiene a week ago.
The three cases within the space of 24 hours are merely the latest to trouble football circles.
Charlie Wyke
John Fleck
Last month, two other football players were stricken by health emergencies in the same week. A player for Wigan Athletic, Charlie Wyke, suffered cardiac arrest during a scrimmage and was taken to hospital where he was reported in stable condition. Wyke credited emergency CPR performed by manager Leam Richardson with helping to save his life.
Days later, John Fleck, 30, a player with Sheffield United, was carried off the field on a stretcher during a Championship game against Reading. Fleck had received his second dose of the COVID vaccine in August.
In late October, Barcelona player Sergio Aguero, 33, considered one of the best strikers in the world, had his dazzling career cut short after being diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia following a match against Alavés. The superstar football player was fully vaccinated.
Sergio Aguero was forced to retire from football after heart problems during a match against Alavés
The sudden rise in footballers suffering heart and breathing problems is raising eyebrows around the world. Widespread vaccine mandates in sports have meant that professional athletes have been either forced to abandon their careers or get the jab.
However, getting the jab may mean the loss of their careers anyway, due to adverse reactions.
