Another Tragedy in Football: 27-Year-Old Player Dies During Match
Football is in mourning once again. A heartbreaking scene brought a match in Portugal to a halt after a young player collapsed on the field and could not be revived.
The shockwaves spread quickly through Portuguese football and beyond. Nassur Bacem, a 27-year-old defender for Moncarapachense, passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing against Imortal in the quarterfinals of the Algarve Football Association Cup. The match, held at the Municipal Stadium of Olhão, was immediately suspended and never resumed.
It was the 27th minute when Bacem began to feel unwell near the Imortal bench. Witnesses said the player showed signs of dizziness before collapsing unconscious onto the pitch. Silence and panic took over the stadium as teammates, opponents, and staff realized the seriousness of the situation.
A Race Against Time on the Pitch
Medical staff from Moncarapachense reacted immediately. A doctor and a physiotherapist rushed onto the field to perform CPR and use the stadium’s defibrillator in an effort to save Nassur Bacem. For several agonizing minutes, they worked desperately while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
Portugal’s National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) reached the scene roughly 18 minutes after the collapse. An ambulance transported the footballer to a hospital in Faro, but despite all efforts, doctors were only able to confirm his death upon arrival. An autopsy will be conducted in the coming days to determine the exact cause.
João André, vice president of Moncarapachense, described the moment with deep emotion: “The player said he was feeling unwell near the Imortal bench and then collapsed. He was immediately assisted by our medical team, who performed resuscitation and used the defibrillator. Later, emergency services arrived, but sadly it was not enough.”
A Career Built in Portuguese Football
The death of Nassur Bacem leaves a profound void not only at his club but across Portuguese football. The defender had developed through the youth systems of Sporting, Académica, Sporting Braga, and Leixões, before establishing himself at the senior level.
Throughout his professional career, he played for Matosinhos, Vista Alegre, Marítimo, Oliveira do Hospital, Camacha, and most recently Moncarapachense, where he had become a respected figure in the squad.
Beyond the clubs he represented, those who knew him remember Bacem as a dedicated professional and a passionate footballer who always gave everything on the pitch.
