Ambulances called after official collapses, player suffers broken leg

Two ambulances were called to a local football club after an official collapsed, with the game called off, and a player suffered a broken leg in the senior game.

Two ambulances were called to Cross Keys Reserve. Picture: Istock

A NPL Victoria under-21 games was called off on Friday night due to a medical emergency.

A linesman in the clash between Essendon Royals and Box Hill United collapsed on the field during the first half of the match.

An ambulance was called to Cross Keys Reserve and he was transported to hospital.

NPL Victoria confirmed the official is recovering well and is working with the referees department on a possible return to the field.

The match was called off around the half-hour mark of the match with Box Hill leading 1-0.

It will be restarted from the stoppage on Tuesday night.

It was the first of two ambulances called to the ground on the night.

Royals captain Matteo Ballan suffered a badly broken leg in a tackle gone wrong.

The incident happened at a similar time to the under-21s game getting called off with United’s Nikita Varelas shown a straight red card.

Ballan has undergone surgery and is now facing a lengthy recovery.

Essendon was leading the match 1-0 at the time and went on to claim a strong 3-0 victory with Dean Clarke scoring a brace and Matt Breeze finding the back of the net for the first time this season.

The result secures the Royals’ place in NPL3 for 2024, condemning Geelong and Ballarat City to relegation back to State League 1.