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Lebanon’s national football team player Celine Haidar was reportedly injured on Saturday morning after an Israeli airstrike targeted the Chiyah area in southern Beirut.

Haidar sustained a head injury from shrapnel and was rushed to Saint George Hospital in Hadath, where she remains in critical condition. As of the time of writing, the hospital is urgently requesting O+ blood donations to assist in her treatment.

Southern Beirut and several areas across Lebanon have seen relentless Israeli strikes since September.

Lebanon, already struggling with a multi-dimensional crisis, has seen its infrastructure and daily life heavily impacted, with sports events — once a source of joy and unity for the Lebanese people — paralyzed. Haidar, who was called up by the Lebanese Football Federation last August to prepare for upcoming qualifiers, now faces an uncertain future.

As the Lebanese people continue to endure this brutal war, the country’s athletes, like Celine Haidar, now find themselves fighting not only for their careers but also for their lives.

In recent days, some foreign leagues have begun considering more flexible regulations to include Lebanese players in their rosters. This shift comes as sports in Lebanon come to a halt. However, Lebanese athletes are regarded as some of the best in the region, making them highly sought after by foreign clubs. This raises concerns about the potential migration of Lebanese talent due to the ongoing war.