Germany international Jamal Musiala has collapsed during a match for the second time in four days. He was helped off the pitch looking dazed just six minutes after coming on as a subsititute in Bayern Munich’s 4-2 friendly win at Heidenheim on Tuesday. Musiala collapsed in similar fashion in a match against RB Leipzig a few days earlier.
After the Heidenheim game, Musiala explained in an Instagram post that the blackouts were caused by a “neurological dysfunction”Ā known as “absence seizures.”
“I’ve been diagnosed with temporary, brief, but easily treatable absence seizures, which are due to a neurological dysfunction,” he wrote in theĀ post, whichĀ drew support from many in the football world, including Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer and former Germany and Bayern forward Thomas MĆ¼ller.
“These can lead to the recent episodes, like the one against Leipzig or now in Heidenheim. I know they seem scary at first glance ā€“Ā but for me, they’re currently just part of my everyday life.
“I’m receiving excellent medical treatment and am very optimistic. FC Bayern and my family and friends are always by my side and supporting me on this journey.”
What are absence seizures?
Once known as “petit mal”Ā seizures, absence seizures are split in to two types ā€“ typical and atypical. It is not yet clear which of these Musiala is experiencing.
Typical cases cause a person to stop anything they are doing in an instant and appear to ‘switch off’. Sometimes their eyes may look upwards or flutter. They last between 10 and 20 seconds and may cause some confusion for a few seconds afterwards before the person returns to their usual state.
Atypical cases usually last a little longer than typical ones and may also include chewing or lip smacking movements, hand motions or repetitive blinking.
Both are a type of epilepsy and, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, are caused by “brief abnormal electrical activity in a person’s brain”. They are most commonly found in children but can occur in adults and the foundation says they can be occurring for a long time before being diagnosed, depending on the environment in which they occur. It adds that some people may have “hundreds of brief absence seizures a day.”Ā Treatment is not generally required, but some medicines are available for more serious cases.
Ā Is Jamal Musiala’s career at risk?
Bayern Munich told German press agency DPA that the absence seizures were no threat to Musiala’s career but it seems apparent thatĀ collapsing on the pitch will be difficult to manage if it doesn’t clear up.
Although very different in nature, the seizures are another setback for a player who has struggled for fitness in recent years. Musiala, 23, broke his leg in the Club World Cup last July and found it difficult to regain fitness and form. In March he was hit byĀ an ankle injury.
He did make the Germany World CupĀ squad but looked off the pace for much of the tournament. He then required a small operation to remove a metal plate from his foot left over from last year’s leg operation.
What’sĀ next for Jamal Musiala and Bayern Munich?
Bayern’s season begins on Saturday with the German Super Cup, rebranded as the “Franz Beckenbauer Supercup” this season. The match usually pits the German champions against the German Cup winners but, with Bayern having won both last year, they face league runners up Borussia Dortmund. They open their BundesligaĀ title defense the following Friday, August 28, against Stuttgart in Munich.
It is unclear whether Musiala will play any part in either of these games and how Bayern and the player will manage the seizures, but Musiala remains upbeat.
“It has been my personal desire to take on this challenge and, with the approval of the neurologists, to continue focusing on what helps me most in my recovery: simply living my everyday life and continuing to pursue my passion for playing football,”Ā Musiala wrote.
“I have taken responsibility for this. Overall, I feel very positive and am on the right track. What helps me most on this journey is continuing to chase victories and titles with my team and your amazing support.”
Edited by: Chuck Penfold