A Manchester United under-21 fixture was abruptly abandoned after rising star Sekou Kone suffered a serious injury during play. The incident occurred in the second half, forcing officials to halt the match as medical staff rushed to attend to the 19-year-old midfielder.
Witnesses described a distressing scene as Kone remained on the pitch for several minutes before being carefully stretchered off. Club sources later confirmed the player had been taken to hospital for further assessment.
Match Officials Forced to Make Difficult Decision
The referee consulted with both teams' coaching staff before making the unprecedented call to abandon the competitive fixture. This marks one of the rare instances in youth football where a match has been called off due to player welfare concerns.
Club Issues Statement on Player Welfare
Manchester United released a brief statement acknowledging the incident: "Our immediate focus is on Sekou's wellbeing. The club's medical team are providing full support, and we ask for privacy for the player and his family at this time."
The abandonment raises fresh questions about player protection mechanisms in development football, particularly regarding emergency response protocols at smaller venues.
