Manager screams at referee 'stop the game' as keeper collapses with head injury

Daily Mirror

07-07-2025

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei suffered a head injury during his side's 1-1 draw with Columbus Crew in the MLS and the game was ended early as a result
An MLS game between Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew was called off in the final seconds of stoppage time after goalkeeper Stefan Frei suffered a head injury. The incident occurred as Frei came out to claim a set piece and his head accidentally collided with the knee of an opposition player.
Medical staff immediately tended to the 39-year-old and he had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. And with just seconds left to play, both Seattle manager Brian Schmetzer and Columbus boss Wilfried Nancy agreed the game should be ended with the score 1-1.
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Schmetzer could be seen saying "just stop the game" on the sidelines, with Nancy also gesturing towards the referee that he agreed. The official then spoke with both managers and blew the final whistle.
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Schmetzer later thanked Nancy for agreeing to stop the match and said Frei was "fine". Schmetzer said: "Stefan is being evaluated for a head and neck injury. He got hit pretty hard. We're in the early stages of that evaluation.
"As soon as we get a definitive, a real, good clarity on the extent of the injury, we'll give you more. I don't want to speculate. He is going to the hospital, but he is fine.
"He was alert when he was loaded onto the ambulance … I'm very happy for our medical staff because they did a good job to be careful. We can't underestimate that type of stuff.
"I appreciate what he [Nancy] did, because the ref wasn't going to stop the game, and everybody knew the game should have been stopped. So good on him. So thank you, Wilfried."
Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan added: "We know Stef, he's resilient. He's going to fight his way back, and having gone through concussions [myself] before, you know he's going to get all the support he needs, and he's going to be better in no time.
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"But you know the most important thing after an injury like this is to give him space and be patient and listen to his body, his brain, his symptoms, and in the end, he's going to be just fine."
Frei later shared an update on social media, thanking fans for their support. "Still trying to figure out what happened at the end of the game, but I'm incredibly grateful to all the staff that looked after me and happy to be back home resting now," he wrote.
"What resonates is all the messages, calls, and love I've received from so many of you. Thank you — truly.... It means more than I can put into words. I feel the support, and I'm thankful for every single one of you."
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