Fabio Schifano, amateur footballer for KSCT Menen, Belgium, was seriously injured in his hand when he picked up a firecracker thrown by a supporter.
That day was his birthday. But instead of preparing for his trip to Milan with friends to celebrate his 26th birthday and attend a Champions League match, Fabio Schifano found himself in hospital with a finger and two knuckles missing. Saturday October 19, this amateur footballer was seriously injured in his right hand after a match in the Belgian fourth division. The fault lies with a pyrotechnic device thrown onto the pitch after the final whistle, reported several local media.
“I thought of a smoke bomb”
With his KSCT Menen teammates, Fabio Schifano had just won 4-0 against SK Zillebeke. The players were celebrating with fans when the accident occurred. “Suddenly, I saw something being thrown from the stands. I thought it was a smoke bomb. I immediately saw the danger. For my teammates, but also for the supporters. There were children around, I didn’t want anyone to get burned. In a split second, I decided to remove the projectile,” the person told. HLN.
Except that it wasn’t a smoke bomb, but a firecracker. “Less than two seconds later, it exploded. (…) When the smoke cleared, I saw a lot of blood on my right hand. Some fingers were missing.” In this case, the index finger was torn off, as was half of the thumb and middle finger. The explosion also sent shrapnel into his legs. In total, three surgical operations were necessary in 48 hours.
The person who threw the projectile went to the police shortly after the incident. He is being prosecuted for involuntary injuries. “I called him. To tell him that I don’t hold a grudge against him,” assured the footballer, who can no longer practice his job in construction.
