A footballer for the amateur Flemish football team, KSCT Menen, was severely injured by a firecracker thrown onto the field by a spectator following a match on Saturday evening.
The firecracker exploded as Fabio Schifano (26), a kickboxer and a striker for the team, attempted to remove it from the pitch shortly after the end of the provincial division match in Zillebeke, in West-Flanders.
The athlete has lost at least one finger but the full consequences of the injuries are to yet be determined, Schifano told VRT NWS on Monday.
Local media has identified the spectator who threw the firework as a local 21 year-old man. He was taken into custody by the local authorities but has since been released, reported VRT NWS. It is suspected that the incident was unintentional. In addition to the legal charges, the man could also face stadium bans for future games.
According to multiple media reports, the explosion was caused by a professional grade firecracker, a Cobra 6. The private use of these types of firecrackers are strictly prohibited in Belgium.
Schilfano's kickboxing club started an online crowd fund shortly after the incident to support the athlete's rehabilitation. As of the time of publication, around €3,700 have been donated, surpassing the initial goal of €2,500.
