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 cook 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, he is a warrior, in the middle position to get the ball to the strikers,” coach Samir Barbari said during his visit to the hospital. used to play She is a phenomenal girl and a great player.’
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### Interview with Abbas Haider, Father of Celine Haider
### Interview with Abbas Haider, Father of Celine Haider
**Editor**: Today, we have a heartbreaking story emerging from Lebanon, where 19-year-old footballer Celine Haider has been placed in a medically induced coma following injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike. Her father, Abbas Haider, joins us to share his family’s experience and Celine’s dreams.
**Editor**: Abbas, thank you for speaking with us during such a difficult time. Can you tell us what led to Celine’s injury?
**Abbas Haider**: Thank you for having me. Celine had dreams of playing for the national women’s team and was focused on her education and training. Unfortunately, our family had to flee our home several times due to the ongoing bombardments. She returned to southern Beirut to continue her training, despite the danger. On the day of her injury, I had just warned her about new evacuation orders, and she had left our house to be safe. Moments later, I received the devastating news that she had been seriously hurt.
**Editor**: That must have been incredibly shocking for you. Can you describe the extent of her injuries?
**Abbas Haider**: Yes, she suffered a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. It is painful to see her here, fighting for her life when all she wanted was to follow her passion for football. A video of her lying on the ground, covered in blood, has circulated widely and shocked many people. It’s a haunting image that underscores how violence has intruded upon the dreams of our youth.
**Editor**: Celine seemed to have such aspirations in football. What were her dreams for the future?
**Abbas Haider**: Celine wanted to become a professional footballer, to represent Lebanon on an international stage. She idolized players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and wanted to be a star. She aimed to inspire others with her talent. Now, the tragic irony is that she is in the spotlight not because of her abilities but because of the violence that has taken her dreams away.
**Editor**: It’s truly tragic. How has the local and international community responded to Celine’s situation?
**Abbas Haider**: The response has been overwhelming. While the Lebanese Football Association has suspended competitions due to the ongoing violence, many have come forward to support Celine and share her story. I hope her situation raises awareness about the plight of athletes affected by war and the impact of conflict on innocent lives.
**Editor**: Thank you, Abbas, for sharing Celine’s story during this heartbreaking time. We wish Celine a speedy recovery and hope for peace in the region.
**Abbas Haider**: Thank you. Celine is a fighter, and I believe she will overcome this. Our family holds onto hope, and I appreciate everyone’s support and prayers.
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### Closing Notes
The story of Celine Haider is a fresh reminder of how conflicts can affect civilian lives, especially those striving for a brighter future through sports. Our thoughts remain with her family and the countless others affected by similar tragedies.
