Lebanon Of Footballer Celine Haider was about to make her dream of playing for her country’s women’s team a reality, but the 19-year-old has been put into a medically induced coma after being injured in an Israeli airstrike.
Selene Haider’s family was among more than a million people who fled south Beirut and other Hezbollah strongholds due to Israeli bombardment after fighting broke out in September.
“But Celine had to return to (south) Beirut for her education and training,” her father, Abbas Haider, told AFP news agency.
He said that ‘after the announcement of evacuation or the bombing intensified, she would leave the house and then she would return home to sleep at night.’
Now he is another player, who became a victim of Israeli attacks. The attacks have already forced the Lebanese Football Association to indefinitely suspend football competitions in their country.
On Saturday, her father called to warn her of new evacuation orders posted online by the Israeli army, and she left home.
But soon after, ‘my wife called me to tell me Celine was in the hospital,’ he said.
She was seriously injured in an Israeli attack on her hometown, when the air force struck the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The skull was fractured
The video, which shows Celine Haider lying unconscious on the ground, her face covered in blood, while a young man near her cries in pain, has taken Lebanese social media by storm.
An unidentified handout photo obtained from the Lebanese Football Association on Nov. 19, 2024 shows Lebanese footballer Celine Haider celebrating with the tournament cup after a soccer match in Jordan (Lebanese Football Association via A FP)
His mother, Sana Shahroor, told the news agency AFP that the attack happened nearby and hit him in the head. My daughter has a brain haemorrhage, her skull is fractured.’
Shahroor said her daughter had sent her a message, asking her to make her favorite dishes, but ‘an hour later her friend called to say she was injured.’
“My daughter is a heroine, she will rise,” he said. His eyes were red with tears.
He said, ‘She used to dream of competing abroad. She wants to be like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. She wanted to be a star and wanted everyone to talk about her.
Now everyone is talking about her because she got injured in a war she had nothing to do with. They have shattered their dreams.’
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Warriors in the field
Haider was a key player for her club Beirut Football Academy (BFA), which won the Lebanese Women’s Football League last season without dropping a single point, and is set to take over as captain this season.
The midfielder was also part of the national women’s under-18 team that won the 2022 West Asian Football Federation Championship.
Team manager Ziyad Saadi said that he is now in a medically induced coma.
“Doctors are monitoring him closely,” his father told AFP from Beirut’s St. Georges Hospital.
‘But her injuries are serious, we hope she will recover slowly,’ said her father with teary eyes. We are paying for something that is not our fault.’
Lebanese authorities say that more than 3,544 people have been killed since the exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel began in October last year.
“On the field, she is a warrior, playing in the middle position to get the ball to the strikers,” coach Sameer Barbari said during her visit to the hospital. She is a phenomenal girl and a great player.’
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How has the ongoing conflict in Lebanon affected the state of football and athletes like Celine Haider?
**Interview with Abbas Haider, Father of Celine Haider, Lebanese Footballer Injured in Israeli Airstrike**
**Host:** Thank you for joining us today, Abbas. Your daughter Celine has captured the hearts of many with her talent and aspirations. Can you share what happened the day she was injured?
**Abbas Haider:** Thank you for having me. Celine was alert to the growing dangers around us. She had just left home after I warned her about new evacuation orders from the Israeli army. Sadly, shortly after she left, I received a call that she had been injured in an airstrike in our neighborhood in Chiyah.
**Host:** That must have been an incredibly frightening moment for you. What do you know about her injuries?
**Abbas Haider:** Yes, it was terrifying. Celine suffered a severe head injury, including a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. Seeing my daughter in such a condition is heartbreaking. She was living her dream, preparing to play for the national women’s team, and now she’s in a medically induced coma.
**Host:** It’s devastating to hear. Celine’s story has resonated not just in Lebanon but globally. What dreams did she have for her future in football?
**Abbas Haider:** Celine aspired to be a star like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. She wanted to compete at an international level and represent our country. We often talked about her future and how much she dreamed of bringing pride to Lebanon through her sport. Tragically, she has become a victim of a conflict she had nothing to do with.
**Host:** Celine’s injury has prompted discussions about the impact of the ongoing conflict on sports in Lebanon. Can you tell us about the current state of football there?
**Abbas Haider:** The situation is dire. The Lebanese Football Association has suspended all competitions indefinitely due to safety concerns. Many players are affected, and sports, which can be a source of joy and unity, are devastated by these events. Football was a way for us to escape the harsh realities of life here, and now it feels more fragile than ever.
**Host:** Looking forward, what do you wish for Celine and her future?
**Abbas Haider:** I pray for her recovery every day. She’s such a strong person, and I believe in her spirit. More importantly, I hope this conflict’s effects are recognized by the world, and we can find a way to bring peace. Every child deserves a chance to pursue their dreams without fear.
**Host:** Thank you, Abbas, for sharing your powerful story with us. Our thoughts are with Celine and your family during this difficult time.
**Abbas Haider:** Thank you. I appreciate your support.