|
THE HAGUE, June 25-- Dutch football club Ajax has recognized its liability for the health of former player Abdelhak Nouri, who suffered severe brain damage following heart failure last year, general manager Edwin van der Sar announced on Monday at a press conference in Amsterdam. "We have recently come to appreciate new insight that the treatment was not adequate," Van der Sar stated. "Our deepest apologies go out to the family that it took so long until it became clear what exactly happened." Former Ajax midfielder Nouri suffered heart failure in July 2017 during a friendly match against Werder Bremen in Austria and had to be resuscitated on the pitch. The 21-year-old suffered serious and permanent brain damage and according to his doctors will never be able to function normally again. He remains in a low state of consciousness. The Nouri family concluded, after having heard medical experts, that the medical care provided by Ajax's medical staff after Nouri's collapse was insufficient and went to the arbitration committee of the Dutch football association last month to demand a verdict. The family wanted Ajax to recognize its liability and responsibility, and the Amsterdam club has now done so. Van der Sar stated at the press conference that Ajax based its initial analysis of Nouri's on-field treatment on its own information and a second opinion from an external medical advisor. This analysis showed, according to Ajax, that no mistakes were made. | 
