It’s not the first time he has fainted on the pitch
Bafetimbi Gomis collapsed while playing for Galatasaray against Kasimpasa in their Turkish Super Liga fixture on Sunday afternoon.
Incredibly, the medics who entered the field to attend to him cleared him to continue playing, despite the fact the seemed to lose consciousness.
We are done with the first 15 minutes in the match.
Bafe Gomis scared us all for a minute as he seemed to have passed out on the pitch but the Frenchman was quick to stand up and he is good to go. #CimBom has been the dominant side so far but no ice-breakers yet. 0-0
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) February 18, 2018
The former Swansea striker has collapsed on the field of play before. Back in 2015, he suffered from a “vasovagal syncope”, whereby a trigger causes a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, while playing for Swansea against Tottenham.
His manager at the time, Garry Monk, said “It [the vasovagal condition] is something he has lived with his whole life”, and Gomis’ insistence that he wanted to carry on playing on both occasions suggests it’s not as dangerous as it seems.
However, it is still surprising that he was allowed to continue today and not taken off as a precaution.
Gomis! 😳 Hope it’s not serious https://t.co/NdEivmtE3W
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) February 18, 2018
In 2009, Gomis collapsed three times and was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope.
To the relief of Galatasaray fans and football fans worldwide, the striker has tweeted since, reassuring fans that he is ok.
I am fine, dont worry. Thank you all 🙏🏻
— GALA 🚀 (@GALA2011905) February 18, 2018
Gomis has been firing on all cylinders for the Galatasaray this season; before today he had racked up 17 goals in 20 league appearances, keeping the Istanbul club in the running for a very fiercely contested league title.