Injured World Cup Saudi footballer airlifted to Riyadh
Saudi footballer Yasser Al-Shahrani, who was seriously injured during the Kingdom’s historic match with Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar, has been airlifted to Riyadh for further treatment. A statement posted on the Green Falcons’ Twitter said the footballer was transferred on Wednesday morning from Hamad Medical City in Doha to the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh where he will undergo surgery. Al-Shahrani collided with Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais
during Tuesday’s match, sustaining a fractured jaw, broken left facial bones and internal bleeding that needed rapid surgical intervention. The footballer was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and transported to a hospital in Hamad Medical City in Doha just moments before the full time whistle was blown, marking an end to the heart-stopping match. Saudi Arabia claimed a historic 2-1 win over Argentina on Tuesday, after teammates Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsary struck in the space of four second half minutes to turn the game on its head. The match ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten record at the Lusail Stadium. It was also the first time in football history that the Argentine team was beaten by an Asian team.