Abdelhak Nouri: Ajax say medical treatment of midfielder was 'inadequate'

Ajax say their medical treatment of Abdelhak Nouri was "inadequate" when the ex-midfielder collapsed during a friendly in July 2017, leaving him with serious brain damage.

An investigation took place after the Dutchman's family sued the club.

They found it was "possible" Nouri, 21, could have been in a "better condition" had he been treated differently.

"We recognize our responsibility and liability for the consequences of this," said the Dutch club.

Nouri had "cardiac arrhythmias" during the pre-season game with Werder Bremen on 8 July 2017.

General manager Edwin van der Sar said the club "for a long time were convinced that Abdelhak had received the best possible care on the field".After an initial internal investigation and a further inquiry from an external medical advisor, the club said they asked for a third opinion after Nouri's family sued.

In a statement Van der Sar, the former Fulham and Manchester United keeper, said cardiologists studying new evidence put forward by the family found too much time was spent clearing Nouri's airways and that the club medics were "insufficiently focused on measuring the heartbeat, circulation, and resuscitation".