18 March 2012
Last updated at
19:04 GMT
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba joined the club from Birmingham in June 2008 for £5m. On Saturday he was making his 25th appearance of the season in the FA Cup quarter-final against Spurs at White Hart Lane
In the 41st minute, Muamba fell to the ground with no other players around him. Six medics used mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and a defibrillator in an attempt to get him breathing again. Bolton manager Owen Coyle and Spurs players Benoit Assou-Ekotto, William Gallas and Carlo Cudicini looked on in shock as Muamba was treated on the pitch
Fans, officials and players, including Bolton team-mate Darren Pratley (pictured) were left visibly upset as intensive treatment was administered before Muamba was taken from the pitch on a stretcher and rushed to hospital
Muamba, who suffered a cardiac arrest, is being treated at the London Chest Hospital's heart attack centre. He is in a critical condition in intensive care and doctors say he will be sedated for 24 hours
Owen Coyle visited Muamba at the hospital on Sunday. As he left, he said: "Everybody is praying for Fabrice which is very important and that has been a real source of strength to the family. Our concern is Fabrice and Fabrice only and that's what all our energy is going into - hopefully a happy outcome."
Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe, who was visibly distressed on the field at White Hart Lane on Saturday, also went to see Muamba
Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside was another visitor. He also addressed the media outside the hospital: "The support that we had yesterday from Tottenham and our own fans was fantastic - the staff, the fans, the players and the officials at the game - it was unbelievable."
At Bolton's Reebok Stadium, fans left get-well-soon messages throughout the day
And the support is not just from Bolton fans as this message from a Manchester United supporter at the Reebok showed
During Sunday's games, players and fans led rounds of applause for Muamba. Norwich City showed their support before their Premier League match against Newcastle at the Sports Direct Arena
A former team-mate of Muamba, Gary Cahill revealed a t-shirt dedicated to his friend after scoring Chelsea's first goal in the FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester. "It was nice to get the goal but it was a bit of a blur for me, my mind was in a different place," Cahill said. "I wish Fabrice all the best and I hope he recovers quickly."
In Spain, Real Madrid players wore shirts saying ‘get well soon Muamba’ before their La Liga match against Malaga on Sunday. The team also sent a message on their shirts to Barcelona’s Eric Abidal, who is waiting for a liver transplant.
Liverpool fans at the FA Cup quarter-final against Stoke at Anfield, sent their own message - and it is one that has united the whole of football
~RS~q~RS~v=~RS~z~RS~00~RS~)
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