Sounders Keeper Stefan Frei Hospitalized After Late-Game Head Collision

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei was taken to hospital after suffering a head and neck injury in the final seconds of Sunday’s 1–1 draw with the Columbus Crew at Lumen Field. The 39-year-old collided with an opponent’s knee while challenging for a free kick deep into stoppage time and immediately collapsed, prompting medical staff to summon an ambulance onto the pitch.

Both teams gathered around Frei as he received treatment, and coaches Brian Schmetzer and Wilfried Nancy urged the referee to end the match. The veteran Swiss-born keeper was loaded into the ambulance to chants of his name from the crowd.

Schmetzer said after the match that Frei “is being evaluated for a head and neck injury” and that the club will provide further updates once doctors determine the extent of the damage. Frei, the 2016 MLS Cup MVP, has been with Seattle since 2014 and helped the club win league titles in 2016 and 2019.