Oxford United give an update on the fan who suffered a medical emergency in the stands during the Portsmouth game.
Following a medical emergency which took place during today’s game, the U’s have confirmed that a supporter suffered a cardiac arrest during the first half and that they’re in a stable condition and receiving further treatment in hospital.
Sadly, there was one moment of misunderstanding as the incident happened, with Oxford fans heard singing the chant ‘Sky TV is f*cking sh*t’ with a cameraman being moved by stewards for their safety. The chant was audibly heard loud and clear on Sky Sports.
TeamsLikeOxford (@danielfreeman83) have since tweeted a screenshot of a message from a mate, an Oxford fan, whose Dad was the cameraman. And it seems there was a misunderstanding if the below messages are anything to go by.
It read: “The camera behind the goal was filming a wide shot of the North Stand. This is so the remote director can monitor off air what is happening, as is protocol.
“When he returned to the camera, no close up’s of the incident or aftermath were being filmed for broadcast, it wasn’t being pointed toward the incident.
“This footage has already been reviewed to confirm this. The camera op is an Oxford fan & is distraught. Even if he had been asked to film the incident he wouldn’t, he was asked to go home for his own safety.”
@swissyellow replied: “One of the safety team didn’t help by jumping in and telling the bloke to turn his camera around. It raised temperature of everyone around and was just adding stress. Not good enough @OUFCSP”
Yellow Division (@yellow_division) tweeted: “We understand today was an emotional day filled with chaos and uncertainty.
“We believe after having contact with a relative of the cameraman’s information has been shared that he did not film today’s incident
“We deeply understand everyone’s anger and frustration given if that had been the case,
“The man filming today is one of our own an Oxford fan that loves the club and has been attacked verbally to a degree that is deeply upsetting to him and his family.
“we would like to offer him our deepest sympathy and apologies for not only our tweet earlier highlighting footage of said event but also on behalf of all of us that can only imagine the feeling of having your own fanbase turn on you.
“Today has been a hard day for everyone but the accident misinformation spread today is very upsetting.”
Oxford v Portsmouth 0-2. Very disappointing. Surely Romeny needs to start the next match. Hope the supporter taken ill makes a quick recovery 👍 pic.twitter.com/wXBCTZkKqi
— PW (@OUFCPCW) February 15, 2025
On the 12th minute of the Championship fixture, play was stopped, with Oxford tweeting: “There has been a break in play due to a medical emergency in the crowd. Further details will be shared when we have them.
“The players have now left the field whilst we deal with the medical emergency.
“Thank you for your patience. We can confirm that the fan is breathing and receiving medical care, they will be transferred to hospital for further monitoring. Play will resume at 1:15PM.”
Play resumed with the players back out on the pitch and warming up ahead of a restart. Oxford have confirmed the fan is breathing and receiving medical care.
Minutes into the second half, Andre Dozzell put Pompey in front, Matt Ritchie swung in a corner which lead to a goalmouth scramble before Rob Atkinson squared it for Andre Dozzell to tap in his first for the club.
Mark O’Mahony then made it 2-0 in stoppage time to give Pompey their first victory away from Fratton Park for four months to move them seven points clear of the relegation places.
There has been a break in play due to a medical emergency in the crowd. Further details will be shared when we have them.
— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) February 15, 2025
The players have now left the field whilst we deal with the medical emergency.
— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) February 15, 2025
Thank you for your patience. We can confirm that the fan is breathing and receiving medical care, they will be transferred to hospital for further monitoring. Play will resume at 1:15PM.
— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) February 15, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Following a medical emergency which took place during today’s Sky Bet Championship game at home to Portsmouth, Oxford United can confirm a supporter suffered a cardiac arrest during the first half. We are pleased to report they are now in a stable condition and receiving further treatment in hospital.
The Club would like to place on record our thanks to the onsite medical team from St John Ambulance and South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police, stadium stewards, and off duty paramedics who arrived on the scene within 30 seconds. CPR was administered and the person concerned was eventually resuscitated, before being taken to hospital.
We would also like to thank the supporters in the area for the part they played, as well as the on-pitch referee team for taking the players off the pitch during this time.
We will provide any further updates in due course. Thank you.
During Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship match against Portsmouth, a supporter suffered a cardiac arrest in the first half.
Thanks to the prompt actions of the St John Ambulance medical team, South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police, stewards, and off duty paramedics, the supporter was successfully resuscitated and is now recovering in hospital. We thank all involved for this swift response.
Following questions received from supporters we would like to provide a clarification on the Camera Operator positioned in the stadium’s East Stand, and inform supporters about certain procedures which are implemented in all football stadia in such situations.
The operator was not filming the incident for broadcast purposes, and no footage of the response was broadcast live – they were following approved protocols for incidents of this nature. The operator was assisting the offsite production team in getting a clear understanding of the situation, with this also then helping the EFL and its partners to review incidents and improve processes should events such as this occur in the future. Following this incident, we will however review whether this role could have been fulfilled from a more suitable camera position in the stadium.
We would like to remind supporters that we do not tolerate any form of aggression or inappropriate behaviour or language towards anyone at the Kassam Stadium. We also do not accept any of this behaviour online, which we have sadly seen following the incident.
We would also like to thank the North Stand supporters who quickly alerted stewards, police, and medical staff to the emergency. For future reference, if you witness a medical emergency at the stadium, please immediately notify the nearest steward, who will inform the crowd medical team. This team are a dedicated group of professionals, and they will coordinate with stewards and match officials if necessary.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Following a medical emergency which took place during today’s game, Oxford United can confirm a supporter suffered a cardiac arrest during the first half. We are pleased to report they are now in a stable condition and receiving further treatment in hospital. 💛
— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) February 15, 2025
Twitter users wished the fan taken to hospital all the best and a speedy recovery…
@InitPfc: Great news. Credit to all involved 👊
@pompeanut1898: Great to hear the fan is stable and hopefully makes a full and speedy recovery. All the best 🤝🏻
@PompeyFlag: All the very best to the #Oxford fan. Having recently lost a #Pompey fan at Fratton Park at the start of a game, we know how difficult this sort of thing is. All the best for the rest of the season.
@adamrobertgrand: Really good news, and your clear and quick communication around the incident was first class 👏
@wate8181: Good welcome news. Get well soon.
@mikeshipp1971: That’s great news. Having witnessed close hand what happened at Fratton to our fan the other week, pleased that the Oxford fan is hopefully doing well. Football rivalries are always put aside at times this, sending our best wishes from the Pompey family.
@WILLYHAHN71: Best wishes to them, hope they get to watch you again soon.
@char_chives: That’s great news. Once again massive credit goes out to the Ambulance crew for all their hard work and dedication out there. Wishing the Oxford fan all the best in there recovery! 💛
@Wroetoshaw_2: Amazing news! Credit to all involved. Wishing the individual a speedy recovery ❤️
@jackpowell313: Great news. Well done to everyone at Oxford and the referee handled the situation brilliantly as well
@sar1184: Glad he’s ok! Great response from the medical staff and stewards. He’ll be well looked after where he is! Also hope his son who with him is ok. ❤️
@Si_Watts: More important than anything else 💛💙
@nickmanor: Full credit to the medical staff for their actions. Pleased to hear the supporter is now stable.
@PompeyPatter: This is lovely news to hear. We wish a full recovery to the Oxford fan 💙💛
@OllieWoods1: That’s great news! Well done all involved!
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