A Nigerian footballer, Chinonso Jeremiah Obi, has been hospitalised after suffering a knife attack in Lithuania in what authorities have described as a racism-related incident.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 20-year-old forward, who plays for FK Dainava, was attacked on Tuesday while his team was preparing to travel for a league match.
The Lithuanian Football Federation condemned the incident, describing it as a “manifestation of racism,” and confirmed that the suspect involved has been arrested and is currently in police custody.
Following the attack, the scheduled match between Dainava and Tauras was postponed as the player receives medical treatment.
The federation’s president, Edgaras Stankevičius, strongly denounced the act, stressing that racism has no place in football or society and that players, regardless of their background, must feel safe.
Obi, who joined the Lithuanian side in February 2025, had recently made his first appearance of the season before the incident.
The attack has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of foreign players in European leagues, especially amid increasing reports of racial abuse targeting African footballers.
