Four years ago, the Lebanese National Football Team had to play its home game in Amman because all of our football fields were in deplorable condition. Most fields lack proper grass or are poorly maintained, the stadiums are neglected, and there are countless safety hazards.

Last week, a player nearly got killed when he slipped and hit a cement wall placed too close to the end lines, as seen in the video below. The reason Division 1 teams have to play on such hazardous pitches is that there are no alternatives, and the ministry can’t afford to repair or build new ones. However, this is not a good enough excuse to allow a cement wall to be placed so close to the field.

I really hope the newly appointed Sports Minister will make the safety of football fields one of her top priorities to avoid further accidents. The player sustained serious injuries and is expected to be out for at least 6 months.