Why Millwall vs Sunderland Championship clash was suspended for nearly 30 minutes

The Championship match between Millwall and Sunderland at the Den was suspended for almost 30 minutes in the first half on Saturday afternoon.

In-form Millwall hosted the table-topping Black Cats in one of the biggest games outside the top tier at 3pm on Saturday. But come 5pm, while all the other matches in the Championship will have finished, the match at the Den will still be playing.

That is because the players of both sides were taken off the pitch for nearly half an hour during the first half of the match in London.

With five minutes of the first half still to be played, both sets of players were taken off the pitch by the referee after there was not one but two medical emergencies in the crowd at the Den. League leaders Sunderland were leading 1-0 at the time.

Medics first rushed to attend to a supporter as players from both sides were led off the field by the referee in the 43rd minute at The Den. Millwall's medical staff were assisted by paramedics who lifted the stricken supporter onto a stretcher and took them away for treatment as fans in the stands applauded their efforts.

It then emerged medics were also responding to another medical emergency among the crowd in another part of the ground.

After nearly half an hour off the pitch, the players did return to conclude the final five minutes of the first half, before heading back down the tunnel for half-time. Play resumed for the second half just after 4.30pm.

Millwall tweeted: "The players have left the pitch following a medical emergency in the crowd. We send our best wishes to those receiving attention."

We will update with any information as we get it here at football.london on the status of those taken ill at the match.