LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) A Newcastle United fan is recovering in the hospital after a shocking stabbing incident in Milan, just ahead of the Magpies’ first 2023–24 Champions League fixture at the San Siro.
Eddie McKay, a 58-year-old from Tyneside, was reportedly attacked by a group of “seven or eight people” wearing balaclavas in the Navigli district of Milan around midnight on Monday.
McKay, who was with his son and a friend at the time, was quickly attended to by paramedics on the scene and then transported to a local medical facility. His family is traveling to Italy to be with him during his recovery.
While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, Milan police have not definitively linked it to football-related matters.
A Milan police spokesperson reported, “A 58-year-old Englishman, a Newcastle fan, was stabbed around midnight by a group of seven or eight people while he and a friend were between via Segantini and via Gola in Milan.
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“He received a stab wound in the back and two in the arms. A police car intervened, and the man was taken to Policlinico hospital, where he is not in serious condition.”
Newcastle United, in response to the incident, expressed deep concern and stated that they are in contact with local authorities to better understand the circumstances.
Their official statement reads, “We are deeply concerned by reports that a supporter was seriously assaulted in Milan on Monday evening, and we are liaising with local authorities to understand the circumstances.
“Our thoughts are with the supporter and their family, and we hope for a full and speedy recovery.”
Despite this unfortunate incident, Newcastle fans are gearing up for their team’s Champions League return after a 20-year hiatus.
Eddie Howe, the club’s manager, led them to a top-four finish in the Premier League last season, setting the stage for this memorable return to European competition.
While 4,000 Newcastle fans are expected inside San Siro for the match, many more have traveled to Italy without tickets.
The Magpies have drawn a challenging group for the 2023-24 Champions League, with fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, in addition to their clash with AC Milan.
