Irish Soccer Player Hit By a Rocket During Game

by Jon Azpiri | November 5, 2008 at 02:22 pm

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Irish footballer Conor Hagan was hit by a rocket thrown by opposing fans during a match in Dublin. Hagan collapsed after being struck by a large firework moments after his team Linfield has lost 2-1 to archrivals Cliftonville.

Hagan was treated by team trainers and avoided a major injury.

'I was lying on the ground disgusted with the result and didn’t see the firework coming,' he told the Belfast Telegraph.

‘It hit me on the back when it went off and it was more the bang that scared me and I was in shock for few seconds.

‘It could have been a lot worse so I am relieved that I am not injured.’

The rivalry between the two teams stems from sectarian differences. Linfield, Hagan's team, is largely supported by Prostetants while Cliftonville has mostly Catholic fans. After the attack on Hagan, riots broke out in East Belfast.

The attack was reminiscent of a 2005 incident where AC Milan goalkeeper Dida was struck by a flare during a Champions League match against crosstwon rivals Inter Milan.

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