MADRID — Jasper Cillessen, the Dutch goalkeeper for Las Palmas, found himself in a medical emergency following a Spanish league match, as his club confirmed on Tuesday. He underwent an urgent surgical procedure after sustaining a perforated intestine caused by an on-field collision.
During Monday’s encounter, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo, Cillessen had to be removed from play on a stretcher around the 30-minute mark. This was due to an abdominal injury incurred when he was inadvertently struck by the knee of Celta’s Borja Iglesias as he attempted to block the forward’s advance to the ball.
Subsequently, Cillessen was admitted to a hospital in Vigo where a laparoscopic surgery was performed to mend the perforation in his small intestine.
“Our goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has successfully undergone surgery for a perforated small intestine,” Las Palmas shared in an official statement. They did not, however, disclose the extent of the expected recovery period for the 35-year-old player.