The game between RKC Waalwijk and record champions Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie was canceled on Saturday evening (September 30th, 2023) after a serious collision between two players. Waalwijk’s goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen was temporarily unconscious and was taken to hospital for examinations.
When the score was 2:3 for the guests, RKC goalkeeper Vaessen, who came out of the box after a through pass, was accidentally hit in the head by the onrushing Ajax professional Brian Brobbey, and the goalkeeper remained motionless.
Waalwijk’s keeper Vaessen unconscious
According to Waalwijk’s sports director Frank van Mosselveld, Vaessen is “unconscious after a blow to the head” medical supervisors carried out cardiopulmonary massages at Vaessen on the pitch. When the 28-year-old keeper was carried off the field on a stretcher, he was responsive and conscious again.
“He doesn’t remember what happened at all. I was told he was unconscious for quite a while,” Van Mosselveld was quoted by Algemeen Dagblad. According to the medical protocol, resuscitation will begin automatically in these cases. “Of course all the boys are shocked. I would like to pay a big compliment to the paramedics.”
Vaessen was taken to hospital for further examinations, the Waalwijk club told X. “We are extremely shocked by the incident. We wish Etienne a lot of strength and hope to have him back with us soon.”
Second game abandoned for Ajax within a week
Players from both teams cried after the incident and prayed for Vaessen. The game was then stopped by the referee.
It is Ajax’s second Eredivisie game within a week that had to be abandoned. Last Sunday, the classic between Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam was also abandoned when the score was 0-3 after Ajax fans threw fireworks onto the pitch several times. The duel came to an end on Wednesday, Ajax lost 4-0 against their arch-rivals.