Boy, 13, dies after collapsing while playing in junior football match

A 13-year-old boy has died after collapsing during a junior football match.

Samuel Akwasi suffered a "medical emergency" during a match in Nottinghamshire on Saturday (8 May), Nottinghamshire Football Association said.

The teen was playing for FC Cavaliers in an Under-13s match against West Bridgford Rossoneri in the Young Elizabethan Football League when the tragedy happened.

Condolences and tributes were already pouring in on Sunday following the incident the previous day.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Nottinghamshire Football Association (FA) said: "Nottinghamshire FA is saddened to inform you that following a medical emergency during a youth game yesterday, 13 year old Samuel a player for FC Cavaliers has passed away."

It said that FC Cavaliers said Samuel had been playing for the club from the Under-9s age group until now and was "very well respected by all his team members".

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Nottinghamshire FA added: "We send our condolences to Samuel’s friends, family and team mates at this extremely difficult time."

In a statement on Facebook, YEL Elizabethan said Samuel had collapsed on the pitch after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, and despite the use of a defibrillator and efforts by the emergency services, had died at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

It said: "We are devastated to have to report the tragic events that unfolded yesterday morning during a YEL U13 game between FC Cavaliers and West Bridgford Rossoneri.

"A young Cavaliers player, Samuel Akwasi, collapsed on the pitch after suffering a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Despite the best efforts of those present and the quick application of a defibrillator along with the speedy response of the emergency services, Samuel sadly passed away in the QMC.

"On behalf of the YEL and our football community, our hearts and prayers all go out to his family and friends as well as FC Cavaliers at this awful time."

The match was being played at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham, with one person writing on Facebook that Samuel had scored the opening goal of the match before collapsing 25 minutes later.