National League match abandoned in stoppage time after sickening collision between players

Eastleigh and Scunthorpe’s National League meeting was abandoned in stoppage-time after a nasty collision between two players.

With the game tied at 1-1, a sickening clash of heads between Eastleigh’s Archie Harris and Scunthorpe’s Jean Belehouan in additional time required medical treatment on the pitch.

Players from both teams were sent to the changing room by the referee before the game at the Silverlake Stadium was abandoned. Eastleigh posted on X: "Paramedics are on the pitch and the stadium drops to silence. Our thoughts are with Archie Harris and Jean Belehouan."

Later, the club added: "The game has been abandoned. Once again, the thoughts of everyone at Eastleigh Football Club are with Archie Harris and Jean Belehouan."

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The referee sent both teams back to the dressing rooms while the medical professionals helped the stricken players. Scunthorpe reported that Belehouan was conscious and was transferred to a wheelchair to be escorted off the pitch.

Scunthorpe added: "Our thoughts continue to be with both players here at the Silverlake Stadium as supporters are asked to leave the venue."

The club later provided an update which read: "Jean Belehouan has returned to the dressing room following treatment and will continue to be assessed and monitored. At this stage, JB appears to be responding well to testing. As soon as there are any other updates we will update."

Eastleigh later confirmed that Harris was recovering, saying: "Eastleigh Football Club can confirm that Archie Harris has been admitted to hospital and is conscious and talking. We will provide further updates to supporters in due course. We're all with you Archie."

One Scunthorpe fan wrote on X: "Horrific scenes at the end, clash of heads, Eastleigh player didn't seem to move for a while, thoughts go out to both players, that's genuinely a horrific injury. Result becomes irrelevant."

Scunthorpe had taken the lead through Declan Howe in the 83rd minute when he tapped a rebounded effort underneath Nick Townsend before Eastleigh equalised in the first minute of stoppage-time when Harvey Saunders bundled home from Paul McCallum’s header across goal.

Harris, a 20-year-old defender, joined Eastleigh on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Bournemouth in July, having previously played for Torquay on loan. Centre-back Belehouan joined newly-promoted Scunthorpe in July after spending the 2024/25 season with Gateshead.

The Iron sit fifth in the National League - the fifth tier of English football - while Eastleigh are eighth after seven matches of the 2025/26 season.

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