Eric Bailly was forced to leave Wembley in an oxygen mask after suffering a serious head injury.
Centre back Bailly clashed heads with defensive partner Harry Maguire late in the first half of Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
It was the second time Bailly had clashed heads in the opening 45 minutes.
The Ivorian initially got straight up after the contact with Maguire, but stumbled to the touchline soon after and collapsed.
After almost 10 minutes of attention, he eventually moved off the field on his feet, and was replaced by Anthony Martial, but continued to received medical care on the touchline.
There he was soon led down to the ground, and lying on his back was given oxygen before a neck brace was put on him and he was placed on a trolley and taken down the tunnel.
Play was halted for nine and a half minutes and both sets of players applauded the 26-year-old when he was wheeled off on a stretcher.
(Image: PA)
Maguire received a cut to his face but was able to continue immediately.
Bailly’s injury forced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer into a formation change as he ditched an ineffective five-man back line to introduce Martial as an extra attacker.
But in the additional time to the first half, Olivier Giroud opened the scoring to give Chelsea the lead.
Mason Mount doubled Chelsea’s lead early in the second half.
United and the Blues are battling to see who will face Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley on August 1.
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
