LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City's League Cup tie at Nottingham Forest was abandoned last night after City defender Clive Clarke collapsed in the dressing room at half-time, his club said.

City chief executive Tim Davies said in a statement on their web-site (www.lcfc.co.uk): "Clive Clarke collapsed in the dressing room at half-time and our thoughts and prayers are with Clive and his family at this current time.

"He is on his way to hospital as we speak; he is not very well but at least he's talking - which he wasn't at one point.

"I'd like to thank Nottingham Forest, the referee for their prompt action in helping us to call off the match and I'd like to apologise to the fans but I'm sure they will understand that this is a very difficult time for everyone."

With the Irish left-back having collapsed, City said "club officials from both sides agreed that the best course of action was to postpone the encounter".

Forest chief executive Mark Arthur said: "Football is secondary to human issues and once we found out the seriousness of Clive's situation we went straight to the referee and told him we would do whatever was right by Leicester.

"It was very quickly agreed among the three parties that the game should be abandoned," he told Forest's web-site (www.nottinghamforest.com). Forest manager Colin Calderwood made the announcement on the pitch alongside City boss Martin Allen.

League One Forest were leading the second round tie 1-0 against their Championship opponents after a strike by Junior Agogo.