Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has revealed that midfielder Jamal Musiala's recent on-pitch collapses were attributed to a change in his medication. Musiala had collapsed twice within four days during matches in late August. Kompany confirmed that the player had made a slight alteration to his treatment plan, which resulted in unforeseen side effects.
Neurologists had previously cleared Musiala to participate in high-performance sports, a decision that provided some reassurance to the club. "We've received much more information since then and made decisions with the help of leading experts," Kompany stated, emphasizing that Musiala has the full support of the club. "Jamal has everyone's support."
Despite the incidents, Bayern officials indicated they were aware of Musiala's condition prior to the collapses. Honorary president Uli Hoeness shared that the club had been aware of the issue before the World Cup and that medication was initially thought to be managing it. The recurrence of the collapses, however, was unexpected.
Musiala himself addressed the situation on social media, explaining that he is being treated for "neurological dysfunction" which can cause "temporary, brief, but easily treatable seizures." He clarified that these are "absence seizures," which can lead to temporary loss of awareness or impact balance and responsiveness. Musiala stated that there is "no further health risk involved" and that he made the personal decision to continue playing with medical clearance, aiming to live his life and pursue his passion.
Kompany announced that Musiala would continue to train individually as the team prepares for its Bundesliga title defense. The support of his teammates was evident during the incidents, with players, including Harry Kane, forming a protective circle around Musiala to shield him from view while he received medical attention on the pitch.