Nigerian footballer hospitalised after knife attack in Lithuania

Football

Chinonso Jeremiah Obi, a Nigerian player with FK Dainava in Lithuania, has been hospitalised following a knife attack on Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Lithuanian football federation (LFF) said the attack was a “manifestation of racism”, adding that the suspect is in police custody.

The federation stated that the incident occurred as his club was preparing to travel from its base in Alytus to Taurage to honour a match against Tauras in the second tier of the Lithuanian football league. The match has, however, been postponed to a later date. The LFF condemned the act, adding that it puts the European nation in a bad light.

“What happened in Alytus goes beyond any limits of humanity. The person attacked is not only a player, but also a young person who has come to Lithuania, striving for a career, fighting for the honour of his team and contributing to its victories,” the statement reads.

“Such attacks undoubtedly send a dangerous signal to the entire international football community, and it is incredibly unfortunate that there are still people in our country who behave so unpredictably in broad daylight.” Thecable