An amateur footballer has been seriously injured after a firework that had been thrown onto the pitch by a supporter exploded in his hand. The incident happed after Saturday evening’s West Flemish Provincial League Division 4 match between KSCT Menen and SK Zillebeke.
Amateur footballer seriously injured after a firework thrown onto the pitch by a supporter explodes in his hand
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At the end of the game a KSCT Menen fan celebrated his team’s victory by throwing a firework onto the pitch. The firework exploded in the hand of a player that had picked it up to get it off the grass.
A local police spokesman told VRT News that "We think that the player had picked the firework up to get it off the pitch and it exploded in his hand”.
The player has lost one of his fingers completed as well as part of 2 other fingers. The firework was a Cobra 6. This type of firework is banned due to it being too dangerous.
Glenn Verdu of the Arro Ieper Local Police Service told VRT News that the supporter that threw the firework is a 21-year-old man from the West Flemish town of Wevelgem. “He was questioned after the incident and a crime report has been drafted for involuntary assault and battery”.
"He was released after questioning. The prosecutor’s office will decide on any further action that might be taken”.
The police have also given a report of the incident to the match referee. The referee may refer the matter to the Belgian Football Association that may decide to issue the man with a sanction such as a ban from attending football matches.