The English Premier League (EPL) fixture between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town has been abandoned following a medical incident.
Play was paused just after an hour into the match at the Vitality Stadium as Luton captain Tom Lockyer was attended to by paramedics and staff.
A stretcher was brought out with players from both sides sent to their dressing rooms as the Hatters defender, who remained on the ground, was treated on the pitch.
Lockyer, who is a Welsh International player, was removed from the field of play on a stretcher surrounded by the medical team, and there was a standing ovation from the crowd.
Almost half an hour after Lokyer was taken off, the game was abandoned.
The Premier League match between Bournemouth and Luton has been abandoned due to a player medical incident.
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 16, 2023
Our thoughts are with Tom Lockyer and all players involved in today’s match.
The EPL, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), said: "The Premier League match between Bournemouth and Luton has been abandoned due to a player medical incident.
"Our thoughts are with Tom Lockyer and all players involved in today’s match."
The score when the game was stopped was 1-1, with Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke having just equalised after an early Elijah Adebayo effort.
Luton Town issue statement after medical incident involving captain Tom Lockyer
Luton Town issued a statement on X, following the abandonment of the match, saying: "We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital.
We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital.
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) December 16, 2023
We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for… pic.twitter.com/pPCuB9ROju
"We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.
"We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.
"We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks’ name inside the stadium at such a difficult time.
"Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family.
"Our thoughts are with him and them all."
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