Brutal attack on World Cup fan

Eric Baxter • Published 14 Jun 2010 14:35

A FOOTBALL fan was seriously assaulted after watching a World Cup match.

Horrified witnesses saw him being chased by three men who hit him over the head with a bottle.

The 25-year-old victim was walking to the shops in Barrs Cottage, Greenock, when the horrific assault took place.

The incident followed the 0-0 draw between Uruguay and France, which the footie fan had been watching at home moments before he was assaulted.

He was heading back up Old Inverkip Road, just around the corner from the shops, when he was set upon around 9.30pm on Friday.

Police said he suffered 'fractures and lacerations of a serious nature' which included head injuries and a broken jaw.

He is in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital in a 'stable' condition after being transferred from Inverclyde Royal and was expected to undergo an operation.

Witnesses spoke of their shock at seeing the assault.

One said: "They were kicking him on the ground after they knocked him down with the bottle.

"A car driver stopped and sounded her horn to try to stop them."

Residents ran out and saw the men, believed to be in their 20s, making their escape along nearby Mary Street.

One of the first people on the scene said: "We put him in the recovery position until the ambulance came. The blood was pouring out of his head. He was complaining about his jaw."

Another neighbour came out with towels to put under the victim's head.

She said: "We had to do something to try to help him."

It is understood the victim's mother walked down the street on her way to catch a bus and found people helping her injured son.

One neighbour said: "It was still daylight. There could have been children playing here at that time of night. It's frightening."

Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 492500.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 14 Jun 10

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