JAKARTA - Christian Eriksen's plans to return to grazing after suffering a heart attack last summer were met with a worried reaction by a former footballer who had experienced a similar fate, Fabrice Muamba.
Muamba suffered a heart attack on the pitch while playing for Bolton Wanderers against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup quarter-final match on 17 March 2012 at White Hart Lane.
He was rushed to hospital where doctors said his heart had stopped beating for 78 minutes before regaining consciousness and being forced to retire in August 2012.
Muamba was responding to recent reports of the condition of Eriksen, who is currently without a club after his contract was terminated by Inter Milan last month and offered a six-month contract by English Premier League side Brentford.
"Like most people, I'm of course delighted that Christian Eriksen has the opportunity to return to the Premier League... But I'm sure you guys also understand that I'm worried," Muamba wrote in his article published in The Times on Tuesday, as quoted by Reuters.
"As someone who's had a heart attack on the gridiron... I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the possibility of going to see Christian play."
"The medical assistance that Christian received was so prompt and effective, he even left the stadium conscious after his heart attack, maybe that's one of the reasons why he hopes to continue his career," wrote Muamba again.
Muamba said his biggest concern was not solely about Eriksen's physical condition, who may be able to learn a lesson from the success story of Daley Blind who is still playing with a pacemaker in place.
For Muamba, the biggest concern arises from the psychological aspect, especially for the people around Eriksen.
"Daley Blind plays with a pacemaker so he can do it at the highest level," he wrote.
"But this is not only a physical condition, but also a psychological aspect and the feelings of his family, because this could be the biggest thing for them," Muamba wrote.
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