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, she is a warrior, playing in the middle position to get the ball to the strikers,” coach Samir Barbari said during her visit to the hospital. She is a phenomenal girl and a great player.’
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What impact has Celine Haidar’s injury had on her family’s hopes for her football career and education?
**Interview with Abbas Haidar, Father of Celine Haidar, Injured Lebanese Footballer**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Haidar. We’re deeply sorry to hear about Celine’s situation. Could you share with us what happened on the day she was injured?
**Abbas Haidar:** Thank you for having me. It was a day filled with fear and uncertainty. Celine and our family had been living under the looming threat of the ongoing conflict. I had warned her about new evacuation orders that the Israeli army had announced, and she left our home in the southern suburbs of Beirut, hoping to continue her education and training. Unfortunately, shortly after she left, I received a call from my wife saying Celine was in the hospital.
**Interviewer:** That must have been devastating for you. What injuries did she sustain in the attack?
**Abbas Haidar:** Celine was seriously injured in the airstrike. She has a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage, which has put her in a medically induced coma. The video of her unconscious, bleeding, has circulated widely online. It’s heartbreaking that she is in this situation, especially as she was just beginning to make a name for herself in football.
**Interviewer:** Prior to this incident, Celine was pursuing a dream to represent Lebanon in women’s football. What did that dream mean to her and to your family?
**Abbas Haidar:** For Celine, this dream was everything. She has always looked up to international stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, wanting to follow in their footsteps. Competing for her country was a significant goal for her. It’s incredibly painful to see those dreams shattered because of a war that she didn’t want anything to do with. She wanted to be celebrated for her talents, not for this tragedy.
**Interviewer:** How has the situation impacted the Lebanese football community?
**Abbas Haidar:** The ongoing conflict has taken a toll not just on Celine but on the entire football community in Lebanon. The Lebanese Football Association has suspended competitions indefinitely due to safety concerns. It’s disheartening to see such potential and passion for the sport stifled by violence.
**Interviewer:** What message would you like to send to those who are following Celine’s story and supporting her from afar?
**Abbas Haidar:** I want to thank everyone who has shown their support and prayers for my daughter. Celine is a fighter; she has always been strong, and I believe she will rise from this. I ask people to remember her not just for this tragedy but for the bright, determined athlete she was and could still be. We hope that peace returns to our country so that young talents like Celine can pursue their dreams in a safe environment.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Mr. Haidar. We are all hoping for Celine’s recovery and for peace in your region.
**Abbas Haidar:** Thank you for your concern and for bringing attention to Celine’s story. It means a lot to us.
