Newcastle fan stabbed in terrifying attack in Milan before San Siro clash
A Newcastle United fan sustained stab wounds after being attacked in Milan last night ahead of the Toon Army's first Champions League game in 20 years.
Eddie McKay, a 58-year-old who was planning to attend the match with his son and a friend, has been hospitalised but is in a stable condition.
Graphic images published on social media showed the bloodied supporter being attended to by paramedics after being reportedly set upon by a group of seven to eight locals nearing midnight.
In a statement, Newcastle said: "We are deeply concerned by reports that a supporter was seriously assaulted in Milan on Monday evening. We are liaising with local authorities to understand the circumstances. Our thoughts are with the supporter and his family and we hope for full and speedy recovery."
Mr McKay's daughter, Rachel, told Sky Sports News: "My dad is stable and in a bit of shock. He's gutted he's missing the match, but just wants every other Newcastle fan out here to be aware and be safe.
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"He has just had two knee replacements, so he fell when he was being chased and that is when he was attacked. My brother is okay, but is in shock after seeing that happen to our dad. I'm flying out there later. We haven't slept all night."
More than 4,000 fans have made the trip from north east England despite complaints of price gouging with hotel prices more than doubled and flights at astronomical rates.
Meanwhile, Newcastle could be reprimanded by UEFA after they arrived late in Milan last night. Clubs must be present for media duties between midday and 8pm in the city their game is set to take place but owing to bad weather in the area the team’s flight was delayed.
A Newcastle fan is attended to by paramedics after being injured in Milan on Monday night. (https://twitter.com/Ocbroady74)
The fan is taken into an ambulance after being treated.Eddie Howe and new midfielder Sandro Tonali, formerly of Milan, did get to a press conference later that the deadline but owing to the circumstances the governing body are expected to just provide the club with a warning.
Manager Howe said: “It has been a long day, an early start and a late finish. I believe there was a weather problem. We sat on the runway, nothing out of the ordinary and it can happen from time to time. It has been a day of preparation getting our game plan right. It has been intense. We are looking forward to it.”
“It is a slightly later arrival than we would have liked for the players. We want to do as well as we can. We want to be very competitive and give a really good account of ourselves. We will show our style of play and impose ourselves.”
Tonali, 23, returns to Milan just three months after the Geordies bought him from his home town club for £55m.
He said: “This summer has been hard and I’ve had a difficult start. At the beginning it was not easy to find my place, but I have found people to support me and to help me and I started to be happier.
“Mr Howe and my teammates have been great. They are helping me in my personal and professional life. They have helped me settle. The language at the beginning was very, very difficult for me, communicating with the guys I found extremely tough, but it is getting easier and I’m very happy. It is getting easier.”
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