Sports
Borussia Dortmund Winger Karetsas Hospitalized After Sudden Collapse During Champions League Match
Borussia Dortmund's Champions League victory over Villarreal was overshadowed by a frightening medical incident involving young winger Konstantinos Karetsas. In the 23rd minute at Signal Iduna Park, the Greek player suddenly sat down on the pitch without any contact from an opposing player. Just moments before, he had been dribbling normally and completed a pass. He then raised his arm to signal for medical attention. Paramedics quickly responded, and Karetsas was carried off the field in tears as fans applauded.
Former Dortmund player Mats Hummels, working as a pundit for Prime Video, described the scene as deeply unsettling. "When the doctors didn't look at his legs at all and were only focused on his upper body, it sent a shiver down my spine. We wouldn't wish something like that on anyone. They were really horrible images that we had to see there," he said.
Karetsas was taken to hospital for further tests. Sporting managing director Lars Ricken said the examinations were being conducted "to rule everything out in the end," adding that the club would have to wait to see how the situation develops in the coming days. Ricken said he had been "somewhat shocked" by the sudden circulatory problems, noting there had been no prior indication of any issue.
Sporting director Ole Book gave a similar account, saying he had accompanied Karetsas off the pitch but that the player was unable to speak at that moment. "We obviously hope that it gets better very, very quickly and that it is nothing serious," Book said, confirming there had been no warning signs beforehand. "It came very suddenly. He sat down and was then taken to hospital for further examinations, where he still is now. That obviously dampens the mood considerably."
At the start of the second half, Dortmund announced that the 18-year-old was "doing well under the circumstances." Head coach Niko Kovac relayed this update to his players during the half-time break. "I told my players that everything is fine. They are worried as well," Kovac said.
The incident adds to a growing list of injury concerns for Dortmund this season. Fellow new signing Giannis Konstantelias suffered a torn cruciate ligament during his Bundesliga debut against Hamburg on the opening matchday and will be sidelined for an extended period. In response, Dortmund secured a loan deal for Ethan Nwaneri from Arsenal before the transfer window closed, and he came on as a substitute for Karetsas during Tuesday's match.
Defensive injuries have also mounted, with Kovac forced to make substitutions involving Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can and Filippo Mane during the Villarreal fixture. Defender Ramy Bensebaini continues to recover from a rib contusion, though he would have been unavailable regardless due to a second yellow card resulting in a red card during Dortmund's 1-4 loss to Atalanta Bergamo in February. Dortmund ultimately won the match against Villarreal 3-2.