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 Celine’s story raised awareness about the impact of conflict on young athletes in Lebanon and beyond?
**Interview with Abbas Haider, Father of Celine Haider, the Lebanese Footballer Injured in Airstrike**
**Editor (E):** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Haider. I want to express my deepest sympathies for what your family is currently going through. Can you share what you remember about the day Celine was injured?
**Abbas Haider (AH):** Thank you for having me. That day was just like any other—my daughter was training for her football career, dreaming of representing Lebanon. However, the situation had become dire, and I was trying to keep her safe. I had warned her because new evacuation orders were posted, but it was too late. I received a call from my wife saying Celine had been injured in the attack. It felt like my world had shattered in that moment.
**E:** Celine was working hard to pursue her dream of being a part of the national team. How has the conflict impacted her aspirations and the football community in Lebanon?
**AH:** It is devastating. Celine was only 19 and had so much potential. She idolized players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and wanted to make her mark in football. Now, her dreams are interrupted by a war she never chose to be a part of. The attacks have also led to the indefinite suspension of football competitions here, making it even harder for young players to pursue their goals. This conflict is not just about bombs; it destroys lives and dreams.
**E:** There has been a lot of media coverage surrounding Celine’s injury. How has her situation resonated with those in Lebanon and beyond?
**AH:** The video of her unconscious on the ground went viral, and it breaks my heart to see it circulate. My daughter is not just a name; she is a bright young woman full of dreams. Her injury has sparked conversations about the often-overlooked impacts of war on young athletes and innocent civilians. The world is starting to pay attention to the plight of those like Celine, who suffer the consequences of violence.
**E:** Celine is in a medically induced coma with significant injuries. What are your hopes for her recovery?
**AH:** I believe in her strength. Celine is a fighter. I hold onto hope that she will rise from this. Her life was just beginning, and I pray that she will get the chance to fulfill her dreams once again. We have all suffered, but I think her story can inspire change and bring awareness to the realities of this conflict.
**E:** Thank you, Mr. Haider, for sharing your story and Celine’s with us. Our thoughts are with your family during this difficult time.
**AH:** Thank you for allowing me to speak. We need everyone to remember Celine not just as a victim, but as a young woman with dreams and aspirations.
