“How could this happen?” Two players collapsed in a pool of blood right in front of Hwang Hee-chan, and even the perpetrator is “apologizing profusely”... “I am incredibly sorry”

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Hwang Hee-chan (30, Schalke 04), a striker for the South Korean national team, made his first start since his transfer and played the full 90 minutes in a valiant effort, but remained silent amid a terrible incident in which two teammates collided head-on in midair, bleeding profusely as they collapsed. As the pitch instantly turned into chaos, Schalke was shaken by the shock, urgently transporting two key players to the hospital.

The German media outlet “Kicker” reported on the 25th (Korean time), “Schalke fell into deep concern after losing Robin Gosens and Soufiane El Bounouhi to injury following a head-on collision during an aerial ball contest in their away match against Cologne.”

It was a harrowing moment. In the 37th minute of the first half, as Gosens and El Bounouhi simultaneously leaped to attempt headers on a ball coming from midfield, they failed to see each other and collided head-on in midair. Accompanied by a dull thud, the two players who made contact bled heavily from their heads and collapsed onto the grass.

Referee Harm Osmers, sensing the severity of the situation, immediately stopped the match and called for medical staff. While the game was suspended for several minutes, the team doctor of home side Cologne rushed onto the pitch to assist with emergency treatment. The two players, with bandages tightly wrapped around their heads, barely managed to get up but showed severe symptoms of concussion.

El Bounouhi, wearing a blood-stained uniform, walked off on his own with assistance, but Gosens could not steady himself and was helped by medical staff on both sides as he staggered off the pitch. According to “Kicker,” after receiving treatment in the locker room, the two players were urgently transported to a major hospital for detailed examinations before the end of the first half. Schalke had to hastily bring on Yannick Bachmann and Vitaly Becker ahead of the halftime break.

Cologne’s Said El Malah, who had contested with El Bounouhi just before the collision, bowed his head in a post-match interview with “Sky,” saying, “I am truly incredibly sorry.” He added, “I was only trying to get into position during the physical battle; I did not initially realize that I had pushed him and caused the collision. I have already conveyed my apologies.”

Even amid his teammates’ terrible injuries, Hwang Hee-chan struggled in the forward line. After making substitute appearances for 11 minutes against Freiburg on the 12th and 30 minutes against Mainz since his transfer to Schalke, Hwang secured his first start of the day and played the full 90 minutes until the final whistle blew.

Hwang Hee-chan worked hard to break through for attacking opportunities, relentlessly pressuring the opposing defense and recording one key pass and one shot. However, with the team’s morale dampened by the major injury incident in the first half, he had to settle for a disappointing 0-0 draw.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original