An Argentinian top-flight league game between Estudiantes de la Plata and Boca Juniors was suspended on Sunday after Chile international Javier Altamirano had a seizure on the pitch. The game was stopped in the 27th minute after referee Fernando Echenique was alerted by Altamirano’s Estudiantes teammates that the player was unwell.
Altamirano, 24, was rushed from Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in an ambulance to the Platense Medical Institute. In a club statement, Estudiantes said that Altamirano is in stable condition in hospital undergoing tests.
Team doctor Hugo Montenegro said the player did not have any prior history of convulsions and had not been involved in a high-impact collision before the episode.
Estudiantes coach Eduardo Dominguez spoke of the incident after the game’s suspension and said: ‘Life comes before any situation. There are many things more important than a football game.’ Boca coach Diego Martinez added: ‘The most important thing is that Javier feels well.’
No date has been chosen for the rest of the game to be rescheduled. Altamirano was included last week in Chile’s squad for the upcoming international games against Albania and France.
