In a concerning moment that halted Premier League proceedings, assistant referee Jarred Gillett collapsed during Bournemouth's encounter with Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening.
The match at Vitality Stadium was brought to an abrupt stop in the 79th minute when the VAR official, stationed in the video operation room, required urgent medical attention.
Match Suspended as Medical Team Rushes to Help
Play was immediately suspended as medical personnel rushed to assist the 37-year-old Australian official. The incident occurred with Bournemouth leading 1-0 through Justin Kluivert's second-half strike.
Both sets of players looked on with visible concern as the emergency unfolded. Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen was seen gesturing toward the bench, alerting them to the serious situation developing off the pitch.
Lengthy Delay Before Play Resumes
The match experienced a significant delay of approximately eight minutes while Gillett received treatment. During this tense period, stadium atmosphere grew increasingly anxious as fans awaited news on the official's condition.
Fortunately, after receiving medical care, Gillett was able to continue his duties for the remainder of the match, which concluded with Bournemouth securing a 1-0 victory over the Eagles.
Not the First High-Profile Collapse
This incident marks another worrying episode in football where officials have required emergency medical attention during matches. The situation recalled similar concerning events involving players and staff across various competitions in recent years.
The football community will be relieved that Gillett recovered sufficiently to complete the match, though the incident serves as another reminder of the physical demands and pressures faced by match officials at the highest level of the game.
