The football community of Lithuania have been thrown into a state of shock following a stabbing incident involving Nigerian player Chinonso Jeremiah Obi, who plays for League side Dainava.
Reports say the incident happened in Alytus, and the Nigerian was attacked with a knife shortly before his team travelled for a league game.
According to the club’s fan group on social media, the Nigerian was seriously injured and taken to the hospital where he is responding to treatment. It happened just before the Lithuanian Pirma Lyga third-round fixture, as Alytus-based club Dainava prepared to face Tauras Tauragė away from home today.
TV3.lt is reporting that according to the Alytus County Police, the emergency call was received at 10:50 a.m., after witnesses who saw the attack alerted authorities. The incident took place on Naujoji Street, in what has been described as a shocking act of violence in broad daylight.
Police confirmed that the injured player, born in 2005 (later confirmed by Lithuanian Football Federation as Chinonso Jeremiah Obi), is currently being treated in hospital, while the suspect – a 2007-born individual – has been detained. A pre-trial investigation has been launched to determine the full circumstances of the attack.
The Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) reacted strongly, condemning both the act of violence and any form of discrimination linked to the attack.
“What happened in Alytus crosses all boundaries of humanity,” said LFF president Edgaras Stankevičius. “The person who was attacked is not only a player, but a young man who came to Lithuania to pursue his career, represent his team and contribute to its success.”
He also warned about the wider impact such incidents can have on football’s image internationally.
“It is incredibly unfortunate that there are still individuals capable of such behaviour, especially in the middle of the day,” he added.
The federation reiterated its zero-tolerance stance towards racism and discrimination, emphasizing that football must remain a safe and inclusive environment.
“Racism has no place in football or in society. Every player, regardless of nationality, skin colour or origin, must feel safe and be able to do what they do best – inspire fans on the pitch. Football should unite, not divide.”
As a result of the incident, the scheduled match between Dainava and Tauras Tauragė has been postponed, with a new date to be announced.
Additional reports from Balticfootballnews.com.
