Ajax Amsterdam announced Monday, February 21, the payment of 7.85 million euros to compensate the family of Abdelhak Nouri, victim in July of brain damage after a heart attack during a friendly match in July 2017, according to the terms of an amicable settlement.
“We all realize that the suffering of Abdelhak and his loved ones is not over with this”Amsterdam club general manager Edwin van der Sar said in a statement. (in Dutch). “It remains a very sad situation, we also feel it here at Ajax”he added.
Ex-great hope of Ajax, Abdelhak Nouri, 24, suddenly collapsed during a warm-up match between Ajax Amsterdam and Werder Bremen, Austria. The midfielder, nicknamed “Appie” had been put into a vegetative state, and suffers severe and permanent brain damage.
According to local media, Nouri’s situation had improved significantly in early 2020, when he was able to be brought back to his family. Dutch public television reported that Nouri manages to show emotions and communicate with facial expressions. Nouri’s family had seized the Federation’s arbitration committee in June 2018, claiming compensation from the club to pay for his lifelong care.
Ajax soon after agreed to take full responsibility for the player’s fate and apologized to relatives, admitting that the first medical treatment given to Nouri had not been adequate.
Familie Nouri in Ajax treffen schikking.
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 21, 2022
The amicable agreement between the club and the family concerns net compensation of 7.85 million euros, and puts an end to the legal proceedings.
Since the summer of 2017, Ajax has also reimbursed the costs that must be incurred for the treatment of Abdelhak Nouri, and will continue to do so, the club said. “It’s good that an agreement has been reached, so that we can close this”Mr. van der Sar also said.
“Ajax’s involvement and commitment have been extremely important over all these years”said the player’s father Mohammed Nouri, quoted in the press release.
“Ajax have been an integral part of our lives since Abdelhak’s earliest years. We cherish the bond with the people within the club and with the loyal supporters.”he added.