Footballer's kneecap smashed in baseball bat attack

A shot subordinate had his kneecap smashed aft being attacked by a radical carrying weapons including a shot bat astatine a play match.

Joel Collins, 32, is undergoing country aft sustaining a "life-changing injury" to his limb pursuing his squad Avenue Hotspur's distant crippled against Llanrumney Athletic successful Cardiff.

People who were astatine the crippled connected Saturday day told BBC Wales that a radical attacked immoderate of the Avenue Hotspur players arsenic they near the changing rooms astatine Eastern Leisure Centre, Llanrumney, with shot bats, motorcycle seats and different weapons.

Llanrumney Athletic said it "condemned the actions of the individuals involved" and believed its players and coaching unit did not instrumentality part.

According to the FAW’s results app, 3 reddish cards and 2 yellows were shown by the referee aft the last whistle.

South Wales constabulary said it was investigating "violent disorder" which resulted successful a "life-changing injury" astatine Eastern Leisure Centre and appealed for witnesses.

Goalkeeper Mr Collins is present successful infirmary waiting for country and is said to beryllium successful "good spirits".

His club, Avenue Hotspur, based successful Ely, thanked those who had already fixed donations successful an "overwhelming" effect to a fundraiser for him, with fears helium whitethorn beryllium disconnected enactment for 4 months.

A spokesperson for the nine said: "This shocking incident, successful which respective players were violently attacked arsenic they near the changing rooms, is wholly unacceptable and was a truly distressing and frightening acquisition for everyone involved."

"As a family-focused assemblage shot nine arrogant to correspond the Ely community, we are committed to providing a amusive filled, harmless and inclusive situation for each and are hoping to instrumentality to playing successful the adjacent fewer weeks."

In a connection via the club’s X account, Llanrumney Athletic wished said it wished "anyone injured successful the incidental a speedy recovery" and said it was "cooperating with the authorities".

"We powerfully condemn the actions of the individuals progressive successful this incident," the connection said.

"To the club’s knowledge, nary players oregon coaching unit were progressive successful this incidental and should immoderate accusation contradict this, they volition beryllium dealt with accordingly."