Fulham vs Liverpool Kick-Off Delayed Due to Medical Emergency

By Mirror Sport Reporter | Published January 4, 2026

The highly anticipated Premier League clash between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage was dramatically postponed just minutes before kick-off on Sunday afternoon, following a serious medical emergency in the crowd.

With the match scheduled for a 3pm GMT start, fans were settling into their seats when chaos erupted around 2:40pm. Reports quickly spread of a supporter collapsing in the Hammersmith End, prompting an immediate response from stadium medics and paramedics. Play was halted during pre-match warm-ups as players from both sides were ushered off the pitch for safety.

Fulham FC issued an official statement at 2:55pm: "Due to a medical emergency in the stadium, today's Premier League match against Liverpool FC has been delayed. The health and wellbeing of our supporters is our top priority. We ask all fans to remain seated and follow steward instructions. We will provide further updates as soon as possible."

Liverpool echoed the sentiment, tweeting: "Our thoughts are with the individual affected. We fully support the decision to delay the game."

Emergency services rushed to the scene, with an air ambulance landing on the pitch at 3:05pm, turning the pristine turf into a makeshift helipad. The patient, believed to be a Fulham fan in their 60s, was stabilized on-site before being airlifted to a west London hospital. Updates confirmed the individual was in a critical but stable condition.

After a 45-minute delay, referee Michael Oliver announced the new kick-off time of 4pm. Both managers, Marco Silva and Arne Slot, praised the swift actions of staff. Silva said post-warm-up: "These moments remind us football is secondary to life."

The incident overshadowed pre-match build-up, where Liverpool aimed to extend their title charge against a resurgent Fulham side. As play resumed, the atmosphere was charged with applause for the medics.

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