Footballer found seriously injured on Eindhoven street

Stephan Wijlaars, the 32-year-old captain of PSV's amateur football team, was found unconscious and severely injured on Hoogstraat in Eindhoven during the early hours of Sunday morning. What happened to him is still a mystery for the police and his family, Omroep Brabant reports.

Wijlaars was extensively treated by first responders at the scene, before being rushed to the trauma center in Tilburg with a serious brain injury.

The police initially assumed the footballer was hit by a car. "An ambulance as alerted. Then we also went to have a look, but we found no concrete indications for an accident. But we're not ruling anything out", a spokesperson for the police said to the broadcaster. "It has our full attention." The police call on witnesses, or anyone with camera footage of what happened, to come forward.

Wijlaars' family has many questions. "We want the police investigation to be carried out properly, so that we can get clarity. We hope that witnesses report to the police", a spokesperson for the family said to Omroep Brabant. "We just do not know anything."

The board of PSV amateurs released a short statement saying that Wijlaars' condition is very worrying and that the football club is keeping close contact with his family. The match between PSV and Unitas '59 scheduled for Sunday was canceled.

The PSV supporters association is shocked by the news. "It's terrible. We sympathize with Stephan and his family. We hope that his situation will improve quickly", chairman Harrie Timmermans said to the broadcaster.