Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during the Bournemouth vs Luton match on Saturday, leading to the match being abandoned after 65 minutes played.
In a distressing incident, Lockyer collapsed near the centre circle during the second half, with the score level at 1-1 at the Vitality Stadium.
Referee Simon Hooper initially stopped the game before abandoning the match around 20 minutes later, with both teams unwilling to continue.
The Wales international underwent extensive medical care from members of both medical teams and was subsequently transported to the hospital. Reports indicate that he remained conscious as he was evacuated from the field on a stretcher.
It is the second time the Luton defender has collapsed on the field, with the 29-year-old previously experiencing a similar incident back in May during Luton’s Championship play-off victory over Coventry at Wembley Stadium.
Will The Bournemouth vs Luton Match Be Replayed In Full?
In England, football matches are replayed in their entirety if abandoned at any point during the game. It is very uncommon for matches to be replayed from the moment of abandonment with the same scoreline.
In the case of Bournemouth versus Luton, the upcoming match will be a new 90-minute game, nullifying the previous 1-1 scoreline.
While the Premier League emphasise the importance of Lockyer’s health, the established rules on replayed fixtures make it highly unlikely that the match’s conditions at the time of the incident will remain in place.
According to the Football Association’s rule book, “An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise.”
Additionally, Premier League rule L15 specifies that any match abandoned with the referee’s consent will be subject to a replay.
The completion of all 38 matches is crucial for each of the 20 Premier League clubs to complete the league table at the end of the season.
When Will Bournemouth vs Luton Be Replayed?
As neither club is involved in European competition, rescheduling the match is more manageable. There are various midweek options available in both clubs’ schedules.
Considering the delicate nature of the situation and its proximity to the hectic Christmas schedule, a replay could potentially be scheduled for early in the New Year. The league’s board is responsible for determining the date and time of a rescheduled fixture.
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