Belgian top-flight player Sofian Kiyine 'avoids serious injury' after crashing through wall of a SPORTS HALL just yards away from where children were playing... as coach says they were 'lucky' and said it sounded like a 'gas explosion'
- A Moroccan footballer was involved in a horrific car crash in Liege, Belgium
- Sofian Kiyine lost control of his vehicle and smashed through a sports hall wall
- The crash took place just yards away from where stunned children were playing
Moroccan footballer Sofian Kiyine has reportedly avoided serious injury after a horrific car crash that sent him through the wall of a sports hall in Belgium.
Kiyine - who plays for OH Leuven in the Belgian Pro League - appeared to lose control of his vehicle at a roundabout in Liege.
As reported by Belgian publication HLN, a coach at the venue said that children had been playing at the spot of where the car went through the wall, but fortunately they had moved out of the way moments before the crash and nobody else was hurt.
Kiyene was in hospital after the crash, but his agent Luciano Malagnini reportedly told Italian media that the player 'shifted a few vertebrae' but never lost consciousness and will remain in hospital for a few days for further check-ups.
His agent also claims that Kiyene 'wasn't paying attention and didn't see the roundabout' before his crash.
![Sofian Kiyine seemed to lose control of his vehicle and flew into a sports hall at rapid speed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/31/09/69326623-11923657-In_a_video_Kiyine_seemed_to_lose_control_of_his_vehicle_and_flew-a-23_1680252176619.jpg)
Sofian Kiyine seemed to lose control of his vehicle and flew into a sports hall at rapid speed
![His car then smashed through the building, leaving a huge hole in the sports hall's exterior](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/31/09/69326351-11923657-His_car_then_smashed_through_the_building_leaving_a_huge_hole_in-a-24_1680252180752.jpg)
His car then smashed through the building, leaving a huge hole in the sports hall's exterior
![No one else was hurt in the incident despite a group of kids being yards away in the sports hall](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/31/09/69326361-11923657-No_one_else_was_hurt_in_the_incident_with_a_group_of_kids_having-a-25_1680252188466.jpg)
No one else was hurt in the incident despite a group of kids being yards away in the sports hall
As per the Belgian publication, the agent also added: 'Fortunately, the children were no longer at the scene of the crash. It could (have) been a bloodbath.'
Belgian authorities are reportedly investigating the incident, with the prosecutor's office reportedly stating that the violations being investigated only relate to Kiyine's driving.
In a video, the footballer's car can be seen to be speeding along a road as it approaches a roundabout.
The car then takes off up the roundabout and is sent flying through the air before smashing into the sports hall at breakneck speed, leaving a huge hole in the building.
At the time of the crash there were children in the room, divided into different groups.
Loic Gachertz, sporting director of basketball side Alliance Flemalle, told HLN: 'It was like a gas explosion.
'I was with my team and in two seconds I see something drilling through the walls. I had to turn around to find that it was effectively a car. Normally I sit on the bench, which was destroyed, together with my players.
'They had just finished their warm-up, then they are on that part of the field, among other things. Other players, who had just started putting their ball away, were still there seconds before. On the spot where that car ended up. I don't believe in miracles, but still I don't think we'll ever be so lucky again.'
A spokesperson for OH Leuven - who are owned by Premier League Leicester's owners King Power - said: 'The club learned that Sofian Kiyine was involved in a serious car accident near Liege last night.
![Kiyine plays for OH Leuven in the Belgian Pro League](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/31/11/69326359-11923657-Moroccan_footballer_Sofian_Kiyine_was_rushed_to_hospital_after_a-a-18_1680256853797.jpg)
Kiyine plays for OH Leuven in the Belgian Pro League
'Kiyine was taken to the emergency department of the nearest hospital where further examinations are taking place.
'He is not in a life-threatening condition. Fortunately, no other vehicles or persons were involved in the accident.
'The club is waiting for more clarity about the exact circumstances of how the accident came about before responding further.
'We wish Sofian a speedy recovery.'
It is unclear the speed Kiyine was travelling at when he crashed, but the speed limit on the road he was on is 55 mph.
The Louis Melin sports hall hosts five-a-side football, basketball and gymnastics but it is likely to be unusable for a significant period after the damage caused by the crash.
Kiyine, 25, was born in Belgium and came through the youth ranks at Standard Liege.
After moving onto now-extinct Italian side Chievo, the midfielder has also played for Lazio, Salernitana and Venezia, before he joined OH Leuven last summer.
He has represented Morocco's Under 20 and Under 23 teams, but is yet to make his full senior debut for the Atlas Lions.
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