Police Investigate Assault on Olympic Judoka Timo Cavelius in Bundesliga Match

Borussia Dortmund’s opening fixture in the UEFA Champions League ligaphase was overshadowed by a medical emergency on Tuesday when Greek attacking signing Konstantinos Karetsas was forced off the pitch on a stretcher midway through the first half due to acute circulation issues, according to club statements and pitchside reports.

Acute Circulation Issues Force Konstantinos Karetsas Off on Stretcher

Midfielder Drops to Turf Without Contact in the 23rd Minute

Playing in Dortmund, the 18-year-old midfielder dropped to the turf in the 23rd minute following an ordinary short pass, with no opposing player near him at the time. According to match reports from the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa), Karetsas immediately reached for his chest and placed his left arm across his face in obvious distress.

Medical staff rushed onto the grass with a stretcher within moments. After several minutes of on-field treatment, paramedics carried the young Greek international off the pitch as supporters inside the stadium offered supportive applause. Borussia Dortmund later confirmed that Karetsas was conscious and transported to a nearby hospital for thorough medical evaluations, adding that he was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances.

Mats Hummels Addresses “Very Nasty Images” During Halftime Broadcast

Speaking during the halftime broadcast on Prime, former Dortmund defender and current TV expert Mats Hummels described the episode bluntly. According to the broadcaster, Hummels noted that they were “very nasty images that we had to see,” while expressing hope that the incident amounted to nothing more than a minor drop in blood pressure rather than a severe medical condition.

Double Blow Tests Dortmund’s Roster and Greek Contingent

The sudden collapse compounds an already difficult start to the campaign for Dortmund’s Greek contingent. Just two weeks prior, fellow Greek newcomer Giannis Konstantelias suffered a serious knee injury during the Bundesliga opening fixture against Hamburger Sports-Club. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging confirmed that Konstantelias tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee, sidelining him for an extended period.