The Athletic
The BBC has received 6,417 complaints about the broadcast of Christian Eriksen’s collapse during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland on June 12.
Eriksen, 29, collapsed during the match and had to be resuscitated on the pitch.
The Inter Milan midfielder regained consciousness before being taken to hospital. It was later confirmed he had suffered cardiac arrest. He has since been discharged.
The BBC has said the stadium coverage — which is now one of the BBC’s most complained about broadcasts ever — was controlled by UEFA but has apologised for any upset caused to viewers.
Why did people complain?
Television cameras showed medics administering CPR on the pitch, as Eriksen’s team-mates formed a protective circle around him.
The BBC said viewers had complained about its BBC One coverage showing “intrusive footage of (the) player receiving medical treatment”.
When the coverage returned to the BBC studio, presenter Gary Lineker said: “In 25 years of doing this job, that was the most difficult, distressing and emotional broadcast I’ve ever been involved with.”
How has the BBC responded?
The BBC has apologised and said the footage was controlled by UEFA.
In a statement, it said: “We apologise to anyone who was upset by the images broadcast.
“In-stadium coverage is controlled by Uefa as the host broadcaster, and as soon as the match was suspended, we took our coverage off air as quickly as possible.”
How is Eriksen?
Eriksen is to be fitted with a defibrillator implant, which his doctor said was necessary after “cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances”.
He has been discharged from hospital.
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