West Ham United's FA Cup third-round tie against Queens Park Rangers was overshadowed by a serious injury to defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, who was stretchered off the pitch following a concerning clash of heads.
Concerning scenes halt play at Loftus Road
The incident occurred just before half-time on Sunday, 11 January 2026, as the 28-year-old Greek international challenged for a corner in the QPR penalty area. The match was halted for several minutes while Mavropanos received extensive medical treatment on the field.
After careful assessment, a stretcher was brought out, and the centre-back was carefully secured before being taken down the tunnel, casting a shadow over the cup fixture. The home side, Queens Park Rangers, swiftly sent a public message of support, stating: “Into added time after lengthy treatment for West Ham’s Mavropanos. We wish him well.”
Hammers edge ahead in extended first half
As a direct result of the stoppage, nine minutes were added to the end of the first half. Mavropanos was replaced by Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals for the remainder of the match.
In a twist during that extended stoppage time, West Ham managed to break the deadlock. Winger Crysencio Summerville found the net, firing past QPR goalkeeper Joe Walsh to give the Premier League side a 1-0 lead heading into the interval.
Nuno seeks cup run to lift struggling Irons
The injury blow came on a day when manager Nuno Espirito Santo had spoken about hoping an FA Cup run could rejuvenate his squad. West Ham entered the match without a victory in their previous ten games across all competitions.
Speaking before the kick-off, Nuno acknowledged the team's difficult spell but emphasised the importance of focusing on their immediate tasks. “We’re in a tough situation, and we’re aware of that,” he said. “But at the same time, we have to be aware that there are still 17 games to play in the Premier League.”
He highlighted the psychological boost a win could bring, adding: “Things change when you’re winning. You recover faster, and you are more happy, so we’re fully focused on trying to win the match against a tough team in a competition we appreciate a lot.”
The immediate concern for the club and its supporters, however, will be the welfare of Konstantinos Mavropanos following the alarming scenes at Loftus Road.
