Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo has died at the age of 27, five days after collapsing on the pitch.
Izquierdo, a defender for Uruguayan club Nacional, was taken to hospital after he fell to the pitch in the latter stages of the Copa Libertadores match at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium last Thursday.
Izquierdo had replaced Sebastián Coates at half-time of the match but fell to the ground unconscious in the 84th minute without coming into contact with another player.
With players from both sides clearly distressed, medical staff rushed onto the pitch before he was taken away in an ambulance.
Hospital Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo said in a statement last night that the Nacional defender passed away following ‘cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia.’
Izquierdo was married and had two children. The youngest, a boy, was born earlier this month.
‘It is with deepest pain and shock in our hearts that Club Nacional de Football announces the passing of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo,’ his club said in a statement.
‘We express our sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. All of Nacional is mourning his irreparable loss. RIP. Juan, you will be with us forever.’
Former Barcelona and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was among those to pay tribute to his countryman.
The Inter Miami striker wrote: ‘May he rest in peace. I wish a lot of strength for his family and friends.’
Uruguay’s first and second division league matches were postponed following Izquierdo’s collapse.
Sao Paulo players meanwhile wore a shirt in support of the Uruguayan footballer before the team’s 2-1 Brazilian league win against Vitoria on Sunday.
‘We had days of prayers, union and hope, and today we are in deep sadness with the news of the death of Juan Izquierdo,’ the Brazilian club said in a statement.
‘Our condolences to family, friends, teammates, Nacional fans and all the Uruguayan people in this moment of grief.’
