Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam has reached an agreement regarding compensation owed to Moroccan player Abdelhak Nouri, who was seriously injured years ago.
Nuri, 24, suffered a heart attack during a friendly match with his team Ajax against Werder Bremen in July 2017, and the injury directly affected his head, causing permanent brain dysfunction, which put him in a long coma from which he woke up after about 3 years.
The Dutch club admitted earlier that it had provided "insufficient" care to the Moroccan player, and admitted responsibility for the consequences.
Today, Monday, Ajax published a statement in which it revealed that an agreement had been reached with the Nuri family, ending a dispute between the two parties and requiring the withdrawal of a case brought by the family before the courts.
Familie Nouri en Ajax treffen schikking.
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 21, 2022
The club explained that the agreement includes granting the family a compensation of 7.85 million euros, in addition to covering the expenses of treatment and care for the young player, whether those related to the past period or what is required for treatment and care in the future.
Ajax general manager Edwin van der Sar said: "It is good that this agreement has been reached. We all know that the suffering of Abdelhak and his loved ones is not yet over. It is still very sad, that is how we feel here at Ajax too."
"We appreciate the way the family takes care of Abdelhak day and night with a lot of love and attention. When I visit him, I am always welcomed with open arms by the family. This also applies to his other teammates at Ajax, and we greatly appreciate that."
Abdelhak Nouri turns 24 today.
It was really hard defending against him.
Always in our hearts.
#StayStrongAppie ♥️ pic.twitter.com/q5fCeLo3GG
— FC Spartak Moscow (@fcsm_eng) April 2, 2021
Van der Sar indicated that the relationship of Ajax and the Nuri family will extend in the future to include awarding the Abdul Haq Nuri Cup annually to the best talented young player.
He said that Ajax decided to withdraw Nuri's No. 34 shirt and not to use it in the future except with the special approval of the club and the Moroccan player's family.
For his part, Mohamed Nouri, Abdelhak's father, said, "Ajax's participation and commitment were very important in all the years since the accident that Abdelhak suffered. Ajax was an integral part of our lives."
Abdel Hamid, brother of the player Abdel Haq, had said in previous statements he made to Dutch television that Abdel Haq’s condition is gradually improving since he woke up from a coma, and he is staying in a house specially prepared to ensure his medical care, indicating that he is still unable to leave his bed, but He interacts with family members by moving his eyebrows or smiling.