Faulty ambulance equipment contributed to death of Patrick Ekeng

Romania’s interior ministry has suspended the license of a private ambulance company that transported Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng to hospital after he collapsed on the pitch during a match on Friday.

The ambulance company that took Patrick Ekeng to hospital had faulty equipment and medicine beyond its expiry date in some of its vehicles, Romania's interior ministry have said.

An inquiry into the death of the Cameroon and Dinamo Bucharest star has taken place.

Ekeng, 26, collapsed in the 70th minute of Dinamo's Romanian league match with Viitorul on Friday just seven minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at Floreasca Emergency Hospital less than two hours later.

Officials of FIFPRO, the world footballers' union, and Romanian union AFAN revealed over the weekend that they were concerned at the levels of treatment available to Ekeng.

AFAN claimed that they asked the Romanian football federation to have ambulances at all official and friendly matches after the death of Nigerian Henry Chinonso Ihelewere in 2012.

AFAN president Emilian Hulubei said: "It would have cost as little as 400 euros per club per match to have state-of-the-art equipment available but the plan was not adopted.

"We are continually fighting for more rights for players. Footballers in Romania are a long way from being treated the way normal workers should be."

FIFPRO general secretary Theo van Seggelen added: "Our thoughts go out to everyone affected. It's simply shocking.

"After local authorities complete their investigation, we expect answers as to whether or not this tragedy could have been avoided."

Ekeng’s agent, Hasan Anil Eken, was also critical of the ambulance services.

He said: "The ambulance arrived late. Actually there were three ambulances around the stadium but none of them had a defibrillator."

A second Cameroonian footballer died over the weekend after female goalkeeper Jeanine Christelle Djomnang, 26, passed away after collapsing during her warm-up for a match.