A steward who collapsed at the traditional Atherstone Ball Game in Warwickshire, UK prompting its cancellation remains in a "critical but stable condition" today (February 27), according to local media.

The 821st Atherstone Ball Game, held annually since the early 12th century, dating back to the reign of King John, saw hundreds of eager competitors battling to gain control of an oversized ball. Sadly, the event was halted early after a medical emergency involving one of the stewards.

CoventryLive reported that there are no suspicious circumstances, citing Warwickshire Police.

The match, which always takes place on Shrove Tuesday, has two main rules: that you are not allowed to kill anyone; and that whoever holds the ball when time is up is declared the winner.

The game honours a match played between Leicestershire and Warwickshire in 1199, when teams used a bag of gold as a ball.

Shops in the town are boarded up in preparation for its staging, while local children are allowed to leave school early on that day. 

The two-hour game is played in the town's main street.

In 2019, the game was labelled in the media as “the most brutal sport on Earth.”

The annual Atherstone Ball Game took place in Warwickshire this afternoon (Tuesday 25 Feb 2020). The Pancake Day tradition saw hundreds of eager competitors battling to gain control of an oversized ball. Sadly, the event was halted early after a medical emergency involving one of the stewards. His condition, at present, is still unknown.

The match, which always takes place on Shrove Tuesday, dates back to medieval times and the two main rules are that you are not allowed to kill anyone, and that whoever holds the ball when time is up is declared the winner. The game honours a match played between Leicestershire and Warwickshire in 1199, when teams used a bag of gold as a ball. Shops in the town are boarded up in preparation for its staging, while local children are allowed to leave school early on that day. The two-hour game is played in the town's main street. In 2019, the game was labelled in the media as “the most brutal sport on Earth.”