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Millwall boss Neil Harris praises Sunderland medical staff for helping with multiple emergencies

Millwall boss Neil Harris praises Sunderland medical staff for helping out with multiple emergencies in the stands mid-game.

It came near the end of the first half, with the match temporarily stopped for 25 minutes before the match could continue.

At that point, Sunderland were ahead, courtesy of Aaron Connolly’s first goal for the team, however, Femi Azeez netted a late equaliser in stoppage time, marking his first goal for the Lions and prolonging Millwall’s unbeaten streak to eight matches.

The Championship clash was suspended shortly before the end of the first half after fans alerted players and the referee of the incident.

The game was stopped in the 41st minute with both teams being taken off the pitch so that the paramedics could make their way to the unwell supporter.

BBC Sport write that Millwall’s Ryan Leonard waved for the medical staff when he spotted a situation in the crowd, with two fans from separate areas of the stadium receiving medical help.

One was a Millwall supporter in the Dockers Stand at the The Den, taken away on a stretcher with fans applauding, as can be seen in the YouTube video below…

The London Ambulance Service confirmed the male had then been taken to hospital.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a person unwell at the ground. We sent an ambulance crew and took a man to hospital.”

The game resumed after 30 minutes, to play out the remaining minutes of the first half.

It’s also reported that there were a number of other medical emergencies.

One fan, ‘Linus’, said on the Sunderland forum: “Hmm… Dunno if that refers to me… I had a ticket for Block 24. When I got to the entrance to Block 24 at 3pm(ish) got told it was too crowded and couldn’t go in there. They told me to go to Block 26 where there were free seats….

“Got to these empty seats, and when Connolly scored I jumped up and down and slipped and fell onto the empty seats in front of me. Bashed my head & passed out. Woke up, and there’s stewards and police around me asking if I was okay. Some lad later said I was upside down & he stopped me choking on my tongue (thanks marra whoever you are).

“Went to the medical place under the stand, got glue on a cut on my ear & got lump on the side of my heed.

“Watched the 2nd half back there without incident. The two policeman who looked out for me were from Northumbria Police btw.”

Sky Sports reporter Anton Toloui said on Soccer Saturday: ‘Good news from a footballing perspective is the players are back out doing their warm-ups.

‘There were two incidents in the stands, the one we told you and also in the stand we’re in, personnel scrambled to another emergency. I am pleased to say that has now been dealt with.’

Harris said: “Let’s start with the most important thing, that both supporters make a full recovery.

“I want to praise not just my medical team, that I thought were immense in their reaction, but also Sunderland’s club doctor as well who went into the top tier of the home end to support one of our fans.

“We’ve all come here to watch a game of football and enjoy it and nobody should be leaving in ambulances, so to two fans of our football club, we wish them well.”

On the result, Harris said: “I thought we were useless in the first half – I’d say it’s probably the most disappointed I’ve been with my team since arriving at the club in February.

“I’d like to really praise the players for the leadership qualities, the determination and the desire and the whole atmosphere in the stadium for the second half fed off the quality of play that we had.”

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said: “It was a tough game because the emergency was necessary, so for sure we want to wish the best for these people.

“I think the first half was really positive. We controlled the game, we played under pressure, our collective mindset was very good and we created many chances.

“We scored once and we probably had two or three opportunities to score a second goal.

“We know that we are away against this kind of team with a very impressive type of play because they are playing this kind of football with good accuracy, good intensity and the long balls are always in the best position.

“We won the first contacts often and after the second ball, we often were not able to keep the ball when it was possible.

“We had a big space to exploit, as was the case just before the equaliser.

“If we had scored at that time, the game was finished.”

Twitter users gave their reaction as Millwall boss Neil Harris praises Sunderland medical staff for helping with multiple emergencies…

@Barrie_West: After that thoroughly deserved point, let’s just spare a moment for those individuals involved in the medical emergencies today. Wish them both a speedy recovery 🙏🏻. #Millwall 🦁

@GILESY1973: Hope the millwall fan is ok 🙏

@AlanBSTID: Play suspended, I hope the Millwall fan or fans, whatever had happened are OK, never something you wanna see

@_Andyapple5_: I’ve never seen anything like this. Hope everyone is ok

@Darrencole3: Praying for that fan hopefully all is well 🙏 Sunderland fan

@Leonfryatt1: Thoughts and prayers to the millwall fan didn’t look good at all

@RealDeano88: Praying for the Millwall fan hope he/she makes a fully recovery. Sunderland fan 🔴⚪️

@Martycricket: Every Sunderland fan I spoke to yesterday said they would take a one all draw at Millwall today. That’s what they got but it’s tough when you concede in injury time. Backs to the wall for much of the game though. Hope the supporters who needed medical attention are OK.

@SAFC_Freddie: Hope all ends up well 🙏🏼 Never want to see this

@andrew_allon: Speedy recovery to the Millwall fan facing an emergency. Good health counts for much more than football.

@LukeAlisonnn: Glad the bloke is okay. But from the south upper that response from the staff was pathetic

@leon_flint: Hopefully everyone ok, ref made right call

@gazk_mackem: From a Sunderland fan, I hope the fans involved are OK.

@HappyHopperNE: Thoughts and prayers to the fan affected!

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