Arne Espeel, who played for the Winkel Sport B team in the Belgian provincial second division, collapsed on the pitch in the middle of the game yesterday Saturday and could not be revived.
He died shortly thereafter while being transported to the hospital.
The news saddens all Belgian football this Sunday morning. At a second provincial league meeting on Saturday, the goalkeeper of the Winkel Sport B team, a club from Winkel-Saint-Éloi in the Flanders region, died suddenly on the sidelines of a meeting, the daily Le Soir reported.
Espeel, 25, contracted an illness just after saving a penalty against Westrozebeke’s team. Several Flemish media covered the location of his collapse shortly after completing the crucial parade.
The arrival, the quick intervention and the cardiac massage of the emergency services were not enough to prevent the worst. The young player died shortly thereafter.
According to comments from Het Laatste Nieuws, those responsible at the club are “extremely saddened” by the tragedy that struck a player at the club who was “especially appreciated by everyone”.
“We offer our deepest condolences to Arne’s family and friends on this great loss,” it said on the club’s official Facebook page.
An autopsy will be carried out in the next few hours to determine the cause of death.