Fabrice Muamba is 'fighting for his life'

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed and stopped breathing during the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Tottenham.

Medics spent 10 minutes trying to resuscitate the 23-year-old on the field after he collapsed with no other players around him.

BBC Radio 5 live's Ian Dennis says the England Under-21 international is fighting for his life.

The score was 1-1 when the match was abandoned after 41 minutes.

Medical staff gave Muamba mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and tried to revive him with a defibrillator. In total six medics were treating the player.

Both sets of supporters chanted Muamba's name as he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. ESPN reported that he was not breathing as he was taken down the tunnel.

Referee Webb called the visibly shaken players off the field after consulting with Coyle and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

Minutes later the match was abandoned.

The former Arsenal midfielder was taken to hospital, accompanied by manager Owen Coyle and club captain Kevin Davies.

A Bolton spokesman said: "Fabrice Muamba has been taken to hospital following his collapse. There is no further information at this time."

Soon after the incident, messages of support flooded in for the former Birmingham man.

Spurs player Rafael van der Vaart was one of the players on the pitch when Muamba collapsed. He tweeted: "Terrible what happened with Muamba during the game. We're all praying for him."

England international Jack Wilshere, who played with Muamba at Bolton, tweeted: "Hope Muamba is okay. Thoughts with him."

Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte, who played in the Arsenal youth team with Muamba, said: "I seriously hope my best friend in football is OK. Stay strong bro [sic] please please stay strong. God is with you remember that."

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "At the moment we are all watching, waiting, hoping and praying. For all the football family it's a terrible thing to see.

"We just hope it's not going to be a situation like that of Marc-Vivian Foe.

"This can happen on a pitch and one of the reasons why we insist all youngsters coming into the game have the ability to have heart screenings to avoid this happening."

Muamba joined Wanderers from Birmingham in 2008 and has made 148 appearances for the club.

Breaking news
Hospital: Bolton's Fabrice Muamba in stable condition after collapse

Muamba faces crucial 24 hours, says Coyle with Bolton star in critical condition in hospital

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba faces a crucial 24 hours with the Bolton midfielder said to be critically ill in intensive care at the heart attack centre of the London Chest Hospital.

The 23-year-old collapsed in the 41st minute of the Trotters's FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham, with the match abandoned after the player received treatment on the pitch from paramedics.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle accompanied Muamba to the hospital and later emerged to give an update on the player's progress.

He told Sky News: 'Fabrice is critically ill. The next 24 hours are going to be absolutely crucial.'

He continued: 'We've obviously been inundated with people wishing him well and we hope that if everybody can pray strongly tonight that Fabrice is able to recover.

'It's very serious. There's not getting away from that. He's critically ill and God willing he makes it through.'

The club released a statement which read: 'Bolton Wanderers can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to the heart attack centre at London Chest hospital where he is currently in a critically ill condition in intensive care.

'No further information will be issued at this stage. The club has requested the media to respect his family's privacy at this time.'

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