LONDON: Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba was "critically ill" in hospital on Saturday after collapsing suddenly during his team's abandoned FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham.

The 23-year-old Kinshasa-born player was rushed to hospital after harrowing scenes towards the end of the first half at White Hart Lane in London, when the midfielder sank to the turf with no player near him.

Several paramedics were seen attempting to revive him before he was stretchered off the field after 41 minutes with the scores at 1-1.

Muamba was wearing an oxygen mask and was flanked by a number of paramedics and Bolton medical staff as he left the pitch.