A Nigerian player Chinonso Jeremiah Obi, who plays professional football in Lithuania has been hospitalized for injury sustained following a knife attack on Tuesday.
Obi, according to reports, suffered a knife attack while his team FK Dianava was about to travel for a league encounter.
The 20-year-old was stabbed near an apartment building on Naujoji Street in Alytus around 11am.
It was gathered that he was walking to the location where his team was supposed to leave for Tauragė, when the male attacker stabbed him from behind.
Obi was stabbed in the stomach, buttocks, and arm, before the assailant was overpowered and detained by the club’s administrator.
Passersby helped Obi who was then transported to hospital where the 20-year-old Lagos-born player’s condition is said to be critical.
In a Facebook post, the club condemned the attack, stating its shock at its player suffering such serious crime.
Also, the club cancelled plans to honour the league encounter in Taurage.
“What happened today is incomprehensible and unforgivable. Our football player has become a victim of a serious crime – he was attacked with a knife and is currently in hospital, his condition is serious.”
“Both the football players and the Alytus football community are shocked, so we will not be going to Tauragė to play the First League match today – the match has been postponed.”
Dainava also hopes the unnamed attacker who is already in police custody receives the strictest punishment, while hoping Obi makes a full recovery.
Meanwhile, the Lithuania football federation condemned the attack on Obi whom it described as “a young person who has come to Lithuania, striving for a career, fighting for the honor of his team and contributing to its victories.”
President of the federation Edgaras Stankevičius also described the attack racism-related, and called for the safety of players regardless of their origins.
“Racism has no place in football or society. Every player, regardless of nationality, skin color or origin, must feel safe and do what they do best – delight fans in stadiums. Football around the world must be a unifying force, not a divisive one.”
