Father of Spain’s Yamal in ‘Serious but Stable’ Condition after Being Stabbed

Barcelona's Spanish forward #27 Lamine Yamal looks on during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 2 group H football match between FC Porto and FC Barcelona at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 4, 2023. (AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #27 Lamine Yamal looks on during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 2 group H football match between FC Porto and FC Barcelona at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 4, 2023. (AFP)
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Father of Spain’s Yamal in ‘Serious but Stable’ Condition after Being Stabbed

Barcelona's Spanish forward #27 Lamine Yamal looks on during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 2 group H football match between FC Porto and FC Barcelona at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 4, 2023. (AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #27 Lamine Yamal looks on during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 2 group H football match between FC Porto and FC Barcelona at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 4, 2023. (AFP)

Mounir Nasraoui, the father of Barcelona and Spain star winger Lamine Yamal, is in a "serious but stable" condition after being stabbed late on Wednesday in a car park in the northeastern Spanish town of Mataro, Spanish national TV broadcaster TVE reported.

The regional police force Mossos d'Esquadra confirmed the report and told Reuters three people had been arrested for attempted murder.

The 17-year-old Yamal, a soccer wonderkid who grew up in coastal Mataro -- a working-class, multi-ethnic suburb of Barcelona -- became the breakout star of the recent Euro 2024 held in Germany, helping Spain to win the tournament and scoring in their semi-final victory over France.

TVE said on Thursday that Yamal's father had been stabbed three times, twice in the abdomen and once in the chest.

Nasraoui was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Badalona, Barcelona, late on Wednesday and was expected to remain there for the upcoming hours, the report said.

TVE added that a fourth person had been arrested by the regional police on Thursday, with his involvement in the stabbing still unclear.

The broadcaster said the police were investigating a previous fight as the reason behind the incident.

Several videos could be seen on social media on Wednesday, showing Nasraoui having an argument with some individuals in the Rocafonda neighborhood and the police intervening. However, Reuters was not able to independently verify them.



Triumphant Australian Team Return Home with Record Gold Medal Haul 

Gold medalists Australia's Matt Wearn (C) and Kaylee McKeown wave as they disembark from a chartered flight along with other athletes upon arrival at Sydney International Airport on August 14, 2024. (AFP)
Gold medalists Australia's Matt Wearn (C) and Kaylee McKeown wave as they disembark from a chartered flight along with other athletes upon arrival at Sydney International Airport on August 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Triumphant Australian Team Return Home with Record Gold Medal Haul 

Gold medalists Australia's Matt Wearn (C) and Kaylee McKeown wave as they disembark from a chartered flight along with other athletes upon arrival at Sydney International Airport on August 14, 2024. (AFP)
Gold medalists Australia's Matt Wearn (C) and Kaylee McKeown wave as they disembark from a chartered flight along with other athletes upon arrival at Sydney International Airport on August 14, 2024. (AFP)

Australia's Olympic team, including gold medalists Jessica Fox, Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus, arrived back in Sydney on Wednesday to a rapturous welcome from friends, family and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Australia finished fourth on the Paris medals table ahead of long-time sporting rival Britain and hosts France after winning 18 golds, including four in one day last week.

Australia's previous best came at the last Olympics in Tokyo and in Athens 2004 when the team won 17 gold medals.

Australian athletes also claimed 19 silver and 16 bronze medals to deliver their best performance at an overseas Games.

Hundreds gathered at the hangar in Sydney airport to cheer as the athletes, medals hanging about their necks, came down the steps of the Qantas jet which had brought them home.

"You know it’s pretty cool being welcomed home," said swimmer McKeown, who won two golds in Paris.

"It’s better than just getting off a plane and going straight to your car. It’s so nice to see all the support for us Aussies and the success that we have had."

Gold medal-winning sailor Matt Wearn, who successfully defended his men's dinghy title in Paris, was first off the plane and was greeted at the bottom of the steps by Albanese.

"We want you to know that what you have done is inspire us, is give us joy, give us excitement, and lifted up our whole nation due to your performance," Albanese said.

When Australia broke its gold medal record last week the news was splashed across the front pages of the papers and trumpeted across TV networks in the sports-mad nation.

Australians will be hoping for even greater success in 2032 when Brisbane hosts the Olympics. Australia won 16 golds in Sydney and 13 in Melbourne when the country previously hosted the Summer Games in 2000 and 1956.