Last week we brought you news that former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and academy graduate Nabil Bentaleb had been hospitalized with an undisclosed illness on June 18. Today, French outlet RMC confirms what Bentaleb had suffered was indeed a heart attack, and that his football career may be over.
RMC reports that Bentaleb suffered an incident in a five-a-side match, though it’s not clear where it took place. He was treated with a cardiac defibrillator along with “cardiac massage” and was taken to Lille Hospital for further treatment and recovery. Shortly afterwards he underwent surgery to have a pacemaker installed and should be released from the hospital soon.
The report also states that this could be the end of his playing career. Bentaleb is 29 — very young for a heart attack, but at the age where he’d be entering into the last few years of his career if he were healthy. The French FA Medical Commission is expected to weigh in with a recommendation, but the decision is ultimately Nabil’s.
This is, of course, an absolutely awful thing to happen. I’m extremely glad that Bentaleb is still alive and that his life was saved by the fast responses and actions of those at the five-a-side match and the healthcare providers summoned to the scene. Bentaleb’s football career may be at the brink of ending, but he still has his life. And thank goodness for that.