Aston Villa vs Olympiakos Europa Conference League match was interrupted due to a medical emergency.
The second half of the Aston Villa vs Olympiakos match was unexpectedly delayed after a shocking incident occurred in the stands.
A fan in the Holte End of Villa Park reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest, prompting immediate medical attention and the clearance of the affected stand.
The match officials quickly decided to halt play to prioritize the fan’s well-being according to reports.
Medical personnel rushed to the scene to provide necessary assistance, while fans were instructed to clear the stand to allow for a swift response.
The tense atmosphere in Villa Park was palpable as both sets of fans anxiously awaited updates on the fan’s condition.
After a period of uncertainty, it was announced that the fan was stable and receiving further medical attention as reported by TNT Sports.
After receiving treatment, the fan was stretchered out of the stand with applause from the surrounding Aston Villa supporters.
The delay caused the second half of the match to kick off at 9:10 pm, ten minutes later than planned.
After the start of the second half was delayed, TNT Sports presenter Jules Breach said: “Just to let you know, the reason that the second half hasn’t got underway yet is because there has been a medical emergency in the stands, and there was a sign that went up just behind us that said to clear the Lower Holte L2 area.
“It has now been cleared of all the fans, but there has been a cardiac arrest, and we’re hearing that there is going to be a short delay to the second half.”
The players from both teams stepped onto the field for the second half, with Villa trailing 2-1.
Despite the supporters’ cheers, the hosts ended up losing the first leg match 4-2, thanks to Olympiakos’ Ayoub El Kaabi scoring a hat-trick, giving the Greek side a significant lead in the tie.
Villa’s insistence on playing out from the back backfired, hinting at a potential upset.
Despite Ollie Watkins pulling them back into the game, Olympiacos regained the lead through El Kaabi’s hat-trick and extended it with Hezze’s deflected goal.
An opportunity from the penalty spot for Douglas Luiz was missed, summing up a disappointing night for Villa.
However, Aston Villa received a boost in their top-four hopes as Tottenham’s loss to Chelsea helped Emery’s side to extend their lead over the north London team to seven points.
What’s next for Aston Villa?
Aston Villa will strive to maintain their position in the Premier League’s top four as they face Brighton on Sunday, May 5 before their second-leg match in Piraeus next week.
The upcoming game against Roberto De Zerbi’s team will be challenging, especially since Olympiacos have a full week of rest.
Emery will need to consider rotation carefully to keep his players fresh and ready for both matches.
