Saturday’s UEFA Nations League game between the Netherlands and Hungary in Amsterdam was suspended for more than 10 minutes due to a medical emergency involving a member of the visiting coaching staff.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano called play to a halt after Hungary coach Adam Szalai collapsed, with witnesses suggesting that he also may have suffered a seizure.
A medical tent was erected around Szalai as treatment was given.
Players and staff from both teams looked shaken, especially Liverpool midfielder and Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai, who was seen in tears.
But Szoboszlai eventually decided, along with his team-mates, that the game should continue.
The Netherlands went 1-0 up almost immediately after the restart when former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst converted a penalty kick.
Medical staff rushed to the aid of Hungary coach Adam Szalai in Amsterdam on Saturday night
A medical tent was erected around Szalai after he collapsed near the away team’s dugout
Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was seen crying on the pitch at the Johan Cruyff ArenA
After the game was back underway, the Hungarian FA issued a statement via social media.
The statement read: ‘Adam Szalai fell ill in the first minutes of the Netherlands-Hungary match, but his condition is stable and he is conscious.
‘Minutes ago, he was transported by ambulance to an Amsterdam hospital for examination.’
Former striker Szalai, 36, scored 26 goals in 86 senior games for Hungary between 2009 and 2022.
He retired from playing in July following a career that saw him represent Basel, Mainz, Hannover, Hoffenheim and Schalke, as well as the reserve teams of Stuttgart and Real Madrid.
Following his retirement, Szalai has been part of Hungary’s coaching staff since October.
The first game after he was appointed to the role saw Hungary hold the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw in Budapest.
However, Hungary’s hopes of getting another positive result against the Dutch were dealt a big blow just before half-time on Saturday when they conceded a second penalty kick.
Szalai was carried away on a stretcher before being taken to a nearby hospital in Amsterdam
Former striker Szalai pictured in 2022 after scoring one of his 26 senior international goals
Wout Weghorst, pictured while the game was suspended, scored the first goal on Saturday
It was converted by Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo to make it 2-0 to the home side.
Denzel Dumfries then ended all hope of a Hungary comeback when he scored the third goal of the game midway through the second half.
Teun Koopmeiners completed the scoring late on to wrap up a 4-0 win.
That result means that the Netherlands will finish second in League A Group 3, ahead of Hungary in third.
But both sides still have one fixture remaining.
Hungary will host group winners Germany on Tuesday, while the Netherlands will travel to Zenica to face Bosnia and Herzegovina.