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Before
arriving in Romania, Patrick Ekeng played for several European clubs, spending
four seasons with French Ligue 2 side Le Mans from 2009 to 2013 ©Jean-Francois
Monier (AFP)
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The Romanian Football
Federation (FRF) has postponed all soccer this weekend following the death of
Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng on Friday.
Ekeng,
26, collapsed on the field after suffering a suspected heart attack shortly
after coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute during a league match against
Viitorul Constanta and was pronounced dead two hours after the incident.
The
tragedy created an outpouring of sorrow and emotion in Romania on Saturday
while FIFA President Gianni Infantino led the heartfelt tributes to the African
player, talking of how "incredibly sad" he felt.
The
FRF said in a statement on Saturday that all matches in the top three
divisions, the junior championship, futsal (indoor football) and women's games
that were scheduled to take place between May 7 and 9 were postponed.
The
Romanian Cup final between Dinamo and CFR Cluj, which was due to be played on
Tuesday, was also postponed until May 17.
Local
media said police have begun an investigation into Ekeng's death while hospital
officials claimed that he had not received adequate first aid treatment at the
ground, which was denied by the club's doctor.
"He
was brought to us in cardiopulmonary arrest at the emergency room, in an
ambulance, without resuscitation measures as far as we know," doctor
Cristian Pandrea of the Floreasca emergency hospital told reporters.
"We
started resuscitation measures that lasted approximately one hour and 30
minutes. These measures were, unfortunately, without result."
Ekeng
was placed in an ambulance less than three minutes after collapsing and
Dinamo's club doctor Liviu Batineanu said he performed cardiac massage.
"The
first thing you do is to clear out the air passage and perform cardiac
massage," Batineanu said.
"INCREDIBLY
SAD"
On
Saturday, Dinamo fans unveiled a huge banner outside the club stadium that read
"An empty place in our hearts".
Ekeng,
capped twice by Cameroon, had also played for Le Mans in France, as well as
Swiss club Lausanne and Spain's Cordoba.
Ekeng
joined 18-times Romanian champions Dinamo as a free agent in January and scored
his only goal in their 2-2 draw against Steaua Bucharest in the Romanian Cup
semi-final's second leg in April.
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Cameroonian
international Patrick Ekeng lies on the pitch after he collapsed during the
football match between Dinamo Bucharest and Viitorul Constanta in Bucharest on
May 6, 2016
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Cameroon
midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe also died after collapsing on the pitch, during a
Confederations Cup match in 2003 against Colombia in France.
"I'm
incredibly sad to learn of the passing of Patrick Ekeng," Infantino said.
"At moments like this, words seem insufficient. Messages I've read online
from team mates, his club in Romania, and former teams, show just how highly
Patrick was regarded.
"I
would like to express my sincere condolences to his family and friends, and
particularly to the staff, players and fans of Dinamo Bucharest, and the
Cameroon national team. My thoughts are with everyone at this time."
On
Saturday, thousands of Romanians put aside their club loyalties to pay their
own tributes.
Players
and coaches of Dinamo's bitter Bucharest rivals, Steaua and Rapid, arrived at
the club stadium to light candles in his memory.
"It's
an incredible tragedy but we have to move ahead," said Steaua coach
Laurentiu Reghecampf on the day his club marked the 30th anniversary of their
famous European Cup triumph.
Ekeng's former club Cordoba said on Twitter: "There are no words to express our sorrow for the death of Patrick Ekeng."
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