Italian footballer hits free-kick so hard it ruptures a steward's spleen

Imagine hitting a football so hard you send someone to hospital and change safety rules forever. That’s what happened to Inter’s Antonio Candreva last weekend.

The Italian international struck a free-kick with so much power (although obviously not accuracy) that it missed the target but hit a steward placed behind the goal with such force it ruptured his spleen.

Marco Rapisarda, a steward at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, had his back to the action, watching the crowd as most stewards are instructed to do across Europe.

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It meant he had no idea Candreva’s wayward set piece was heading right for him in the 23 minutes, as it slammed into him in his back. He was taken to hospital that day suffering from back pain and was diagnosed as having a ruptured spleen.

Sky Sport Italia are now reporting that the 25-year-old steward has been forced to have his spleen removed in order to stop the internal haemorrhage. What makes things worse for Rapisarda is that not only was he a Juventus fan but Torino went on to win against Inter.

It means Candreva, who hasn’t scored in 31 appearances this season, has now ruptured more spleens than he has scored goals in 2017/18.

The Inter winger has sent a message of support to Rapisarda, who is still recovering in hospital, while some of Torino’s players visited him in hospital despite his Juve tendencies.

And as a result of the whole incident the safety rules for stewards have now changed in Turin; those behind the goals will now be moved behind Plexiglas protection.