Gary Mabbutt, the 64-year-old former England and Tottenham footballer, has been hospitalized in South Africa after sustaining a serious accident.
Mabbutt is undergoing treatment for a large blood clot in his calf, according to his former teammate and friend Micky Hazard. Hazard shared the news on Facebook, stating that Mabbutt is not permitted to fly back to England until at least July 24.
The incident occurred shortly before England's World Cup semi-final match against Argentina. Hazard expressed his support for Mabbutt, writing on Facebook, "Best wishes Mabsy you've fought bigger battles than this and won."
Mabbutt, who earned 16 caps for England, has a history of health issues, including being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 17. He has previously spoken about having limited feeling in his feet due to his diabetes and career injuries. In 2017, he underwent major heart surgery after experiencing chest pains and breathlessness.
Mabbutt made 601 appearances for Tottenham before retiring in 1998. Tottenham Hotspur has reportedly been in contact with Mabbutt following the accident.