Galatasaray's Omar Elabdellaoui Could Be Blinded After Firework Exploded In His Hand

Galatasaray defender Omar Elabdellaoui was rushed to hospital on New Year's Eve - after a firework exploded in his hands.

The Norwegian international is receiving specialist treatment from doctors and reports in Turkey claim he could suffer partial vision loss.

Elabdellaoui was celebrating at home and Galatasaray have released a statement confirming facial injuries.

It read per Daily Mail: "Our player Omar Elabdellaoui was taken to Liv Hospital tonight.

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"Unfortunately, he was injured in an incident at home. In the hospital he received first aid.

"The seriousness of his injuries will be announced at a later date. We hope that our important player will return healthy and well as soon as possible."

Galatasaray vice president Adurrahim Albayrak, manager Fatih Terim and captain Arda Turan have visited Elabdellaoui.

Albayrak spoke to local media and said: "Omar's eyes will be washed, cared for, and his situation will only be clear afterwards.

"The club will do its best to heal the player fully."

Doctor Vedat Kaya gave an update on Friday afternoon, telling Goal: "There are injuries in both eyes, more in one eye.

"His current situation is better than yesterday. He has the ability to see, but how will his condition be in the future? It is difficult to say anything now."

Elabdellaoui was on the books at Premier League outfit Manchester City between 2011 and 2013, but never made his competitive debut for the club.

He would eventually make his way to Greek side Oympiacos, but returned to the Premier League in 2017 for a loan spell with Hull City.

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The 29-year-old joined Galatasaray in the summer and has made ten appearances in the Super Lig this season.

'Cimbom' were last in action on Boxing Day and defeated Trabzonspor 2-0 and Elabdellaoui completed the full 90 minutes.

It means they're one point ahead of Besiktas, who defeated Sivasspor 3-0 in their last outing.

Sivasspor captain Hakan Arslan was sent off towards the end of the first half for showing the referee an incorrect decision on his mobile phone.

The decision he was protesting involved Guven Yalcin's opener, with Sivasspor thinking the ball went out of play in the build up.

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Football, Galatasaray, Hull City

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a freelance journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

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