A FORMER Championship striker was rushed to hospital after suffering a “potentially life-threatening” injury in a Bundesliga relegation match.
Ex-Brentford forward Philipp Hofmann was involved in a nasty collision with Marvin Pieringer during VfL Bochum’s 0-0 draw at Heidenheim on Friday.
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Bochum revealed the 32-year-old had suffered a rib fracture in his collision, which had seen the rib drill into his rib skin and trigger a lung collapse.
A club statement had called Hofmann’s injury “potentially life-threatening”.
The club said the German had undergone a minor operation by means of a thoracic drainage to restore lung function.
Bochum added that Hofmann would remain at hospital for observation and treatment until he was fit to be transported.
He was visited in hospital by club Managing Director Dirk Dufner on Saturday morning, who conveyed the best wishes for him to have a speedy recovery.
Hofmann played for the Bees for two seasons from 2015 to 2017 while they were in the Championship, scoring four goals in 31 league games.
However, it was not the only sickening injury the game saw.
Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Muller was also rushed to hospital after a clash of heads with Ibrahima Sissoko while punching a ball clear early in the second half left him unconscious.
The 34-year-old was put in the recovery position by team-mate Tim Siersleben before the match was stopped for 11 minutes, with privacy screens being set up while he was treated by medical staff on the pitch.
Muller was then taken to hospital to receive treatment, with a club statement on Saturday confirming he had suffered a concussion from the incident.
Heidenheim boss, Frank Schmidt, also confirmed Muller had regained consciousness on the field before he was whisked away for medical checks.
The goalless draw in the game left Bochum bottom of the division on 22 points, while Heidenheim occupy the relegation play-off spot two places and four points above them.
With only two games of the season to go, Bochum can at best reach the relegation play-offs, where they would then play the third-best team in the Bundesliga 2 – currently Paderborn – to hold on to their spot in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Heidenheim are five points from total safety, with Hoffenheim in 15th place occupying the final safe league spot.
At the top end of the table, Bayern Munich were forced to postpone their title celebrations – and Harry Kane’s first club trophy – after a late RB Leipzig equaliser in a 3-3 thriller.
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