Footballer injured after sneezing: Head coach

A football player in England has to withdraw from the game due to injury after sneezing “quite violently,” according to his head coach.

Victor Adeboyejo, who plays for Bolton Wanderers in League One, the third tier of English football, suffered a back injury on Monday due to sneezing.

“Victor is battling a bad back injury and a sneeze triggered it yesterday, believe it or not,” Bolton manager Ian Evatt told The Bolton News on Tuesday.

“We've had him scanned and should have the results very soon. Everyone remembers the challenge at Charlton, he was fine then. But then he sneezed quite badly,” he added.

“Victor is a strong boy and even his sneeze is powerful!”

Because of this, the Nigerian striker missed Tuesday's game against Barrow and it remains to be seen when he will return.

“He felt a slight crack between his ribs and we're hoping it's just a cartilage or muscle problem, but until we look closely at the scan we won't know,” Evatt said.

“I have to start questioning myself when players start hurting themselves when they sneeze. That's just how it seems to be at the moment, but we have to deal with it.”

The unusual injury has come at an unfortunate time for Bolton, who are already missing several other players and are struggling in the league following their defeat to Oxford United in last season's play-off final.

Adeboyejo is the latest name to be added to a list of the sport's most bizarre injuries. In 2009, Glasgow Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot was hospitalised after an egg he had poached in the microwave exploded, scalding his face.

In 1995, Croatian striker Milan Rapaić missed the start of the preseason because he accidentally poked his eye with his boarding pass while waiting for his flight.

Most recently, Tunisian Rami Kaib had to take a five-week break in 2021 after breaking his jaw while eating a carrot.