There was an immediate reaction to his distress on Twitter. Spurs' Rafael van der Vaart, who was on the pitch when Muamba collapsed, tweeted: "Terrible what happened with Muamba during the game. We're all praying for him." Jack Wilshere, who played with Muamba when on loan from Arsenal at Bolton, tweeted: "Hope Muamba is okay. Thoughts with him." His Arsenal team-mate Aaron Ramsey said: "Thoughts are with Fabrice Muamba."The Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte, who came through the Arsenal youth team with Muamba, posted: "I seriously hope my best friend in football is OK. Stay strong bro please please stay strong. God is with you remember that." Muamba's Bolton team-mate Stuart Holden wrote: "Praying for you Fab. Hope he's OK. Thoughts with him and his family." The Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone wrote: "Thoughts with Fab and his family."
The Manchester United defender and former England captain Rio Ferdinand posted on Twitter, saying: "Come on Fabrice Muamba, praying for you."
The Professional Footballers' Association chief executive, Gordon Taylor, told the BBC: "At the moment we are all watching, waiting, hoping and praying. For all the football family it's a terrible thing to see."