Lorient forward Yoana Wissa was the victim of a shocking acid attack where a woman tried to kidnap his newborn baby.
The horrifying incident occurred last Thursday evening and saw the DR Congo international suffer serious burns to his eyes after a liquid was thrown at him at his home.
The woman had reportedly asked for an autograph for her son in the afternoon and he obliged. She is said to have returned and entered his home without permission at midnight.
Advert
He subsequently underwent emergency surgery and is now said to be in a stable condition in hospital.
But L'Equipe and Le Telegramme, via GFFN, have published further details on the attack and it makes for grim and harrowing reading.
The day after the unprovoked attack on Wissa, the woman, having unsuccessfully tried to take the child his partner gave birth to just weeks ago, committed the same atrocities the following day.
She impersonated a social worker and got in contact with an African couple, before arranging an appointment with the mother of a newly-born baby girl.
Advert
The individual sprayed the victim with a burning liquid, forcing her to be taken to the burns department at the local hospital.
This time she was successful in running off with the child - though the month-old baby was fortunately found safe.
On Saturday morning, a woman from Vannes suspected of carrying out both attacks was arrested at her home after police tracked down her phone calls to the couple's landline.
The assailant was taken into custody and hospitalised. With the investigation ongoing, she is facing charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, forcible confinement and acts of barbarism, reports say.
Advert
It has been suggested that the woman's motive for carrying out these acts was because she recently had a miscarriage and hid it from her husband, instead attempting to find a replacement child.
After hearing the news, Lorient issued a statement on the attack on Wissa, writing: "FC Lorient learned this morning that Yoane Wissa had been the victim of an assault at his home during the night before being hospitalised urgently. Yoane must undergo surgery today.
"The club, in shock, holds to show its support for Yoane and his family and wish his player a speedy recovery.
"FC Lorient is counting on justice to allow the perpetrator of this attack to be condemned."
Advert
L'Equipe say doctors cannot guarantee Wissa will return to the pitch at this early stage. He scored 11 goals in 38 appearances for the club last term.
Topics: Football, Ligue One, France
