Sir Keir Starmer attacks BBC for continuing with ‘distressing’ coverage of Christian Eriksen collapse: ‘They should have cut out’

Sir Keir Starmer has blasted the BBC for continuing to broadcast when Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen had to receive emergency treatment during the Euro 2020 match against Finland.

The former Spurs star fell to floor and suffered from cardiac arrest during the match, with players from both teams gathering around to form a protective circle.

The father-of-two remains in hospital but has made great ‘progress’ according to his teammate Kasper Schmeichel , but the scenes caused much upset to viewers at home.

Coverage also showed Eriksen’s partner and mother of his children totally distraught.

Speaking on LBC, Labour leader Starmer said: ‘I watched this live and it was awful.’

He continued: ‘There are those rare occasions where you know it’s serious from the start – the players’ expressions who are on the pitch, the fans’ expression – it becomes very sombre very, very quickly.

‘I really feared the worst. I thought I was watching something no football fan ever, ever wants to watch.

‘I thought they could have cut away sooner and I think his partner came onto the pitch at one point and I don’t know why they had the cameras on her at all.’

He added: ‘They could have cut early, they should have cut out and I don’t think they… they certainly shouldn’t have shown his partner – I mean how distressing is that?’

A statement from the BBC said: ‘Everyone at the BBC is hoping Christian Eriksen makes a full recovery.

‘We apologise to anyone who was upset by the images broadcast. In stadium coverage is controlled by Uefa as the host broadcaster, and as soon as the match was suspended, we took our coverage off air as quickly as possible.’

Gary Lineker, who anchored the BBC studio coverage of the match, said the incident was ‘the most difficult, distressing and emotional broadcast I’ve ever been involved with’.

He was joined by former England player Alex Scott, who broke down in the studio.

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