Former Cardiff City footballer's skull is fractured in vicious city centre attack
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Austrian striker Guido Burgstaller has suffered a fractured skull after being attacked in Vienna city centre at the weekend, his club Rapid Vienna confirmed on Monday.
The 35-year-old forward was rushed to hospital following the incident and will remain there for several days.
The attack occurred in front of witnesses, with Burgstaller sustaining serious head injuries after a "brutal blow" caused him to fall, according to a statement from the Austrian club.
Rapid Vienna released a statement saying: "Guido Burgstaller was the victim of a physical attack in the presence of witnesses at the weekend and suffered serious head injuries."
Guido Burgstaller was attacked in the streets of Vienna in a shocking attack
Reuters
The club confirmed that Burgstaller was struck by an unidentified man in Vienna's city centre.
The attack resulted in a fracture of the base of his skull after he fell from what the club described as a "brutal blow".
Rapid Vienna said they "trust in the responsible authorities that the as yet unknown perpetrator will be brought to justice quickly".
The striker is expected to be out of action for several months, with the club confirming he will be unable to work during this period.
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Rapid Vienna said they will fully support Burgstaller "on his way to a full and hopefully speedy recovery."
The club has requested privacy for Burgstaller and his family during this difficult time.
Any updates on his condition will be reported in consultation with the medical department and Burgstaller himself, the club stated.
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Guido Burgstaller signed for Cardiff when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge
PA
The injury comes at a crucial time for Rapid Vienna, who are currently third in the Austrian Bundesliga and preparing for a Europa Conference League match against Copenhagen on Thursday.
Burgstaller, who has earned 26 caps for Austria, joined Rapid Vienna in 2022 for his second spell at the club.
The striker previously spent six months at Cardiff City in 2014, where he made five appearances and scored once for the Championship side.
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Guido Burgstaller has enjoyed a career across Germany, Austria and England
PA
He has also had successful stints in German football, featuring for Nuremberg, Schalke and St. Pauli.
This season, Burgstaller has been in fine form for Rapid Vienna, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in 24 appearances across all competitions.
The forward had announced plans to retire at the end of the current campaign before this incident occurred.
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