Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi suffers severe leg injury during match against Volos
Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi was stretchered off and taken to the hospital following a first-half collision with goalkeeper Marios Siampanis in Volos.
First-half incident at Panthessaliko Stadium
Olympiacos traveled to face Volos at the Panthessaliko Stadium for the third matchday of the Stoiximan Super League on 5 September 2026. One minute before the conclusion of the first half, Olympiacos center forward Ayoub El Kaabi pursued an attacking ball deep inside the penalty area. Volos goalkeeper Marios Siampanis charged off his goal line to challenge for possession and collided heavily with the Moroccan international. The referee awarded a penalty kick to Olympiacos as a consequence of the foul inside the box. El Kaabi remained on the grass writhing in severe pain from the impact to his leg, causing an immediate halt to the contest. Both sets of players immediately realized that the striker was hurt and congregated around the location of the collision.
Pitchside response and emotional distress
Players from Volos recognized the severity of the injury right away and made urgent gestures toward the Olympiacos bench so that team medical staff would enter the pitch. Club physicians and medical staff rushed out to administer immediate treatment on the grass. Goalkeeper Siampanis became overwhelmed with grief after the unintentional collision, bursting into tears and demonstrating deep distress over what had occurred. Olympiacos left-back Francisco Ortega approached the weeping goalkeeper to console him as the medical intervention continued. Match referee Tzilos also reacted with visible shock to the condition of the forward, placing his hands over his head while doctors tended to El Kaabi.
- Ayoub El Kaabi collides with Marios Siampanis and wins a penalty
- Medical staff stretcher El Kaabi off the pitch for transfer to Volos hospital
- Jota Silva scores the penalty and dedicates the goal to number 9
- Olympiacos BC releases an official message of support
Hospital transfer and penalty conversion
Medical staff immobilized the Moroccan international on the pitch before carrying him off on a stretcher as supporters across the Panthessaliko Stadium applauded in support. From the dressing room area, El Kaabi was transferred directly by ambulance to the General Hospital of Volos for urgent radiological evaluations, with club officials and teammates concerned about a potential broken leg. Olympiacos head coach José Luis Mendilibar introduced substitute Armando González to replace the injured striker on the pitch. Winger Jota Silva assumed responsibility for taking the penalty kick, converting the strike to give Olympiacos a 1-0 lead before choosing not to celebrate. Instead, Silva raised his hands toward the grandstands to form the number nine, referencing the jersey number worn by El Kaabi.
Support from the Olympiacos organisation
Following the match, the basketball section of the club, Olympiacos BC, published a public statement of solidarity on social media wishing the forward a speedy recovery. The basketball organization paired the message with a photograph of El Kaabi scoring against Fiorentina in the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final, a goal that secured the first European trophy won by a Greek football club.
Get well and strength to Ayoub El Kaabi. Everyone in the Olympiacos family is by your side and we know that you will return even stronger for more such moments.
El Kaabi remained under the care of hospital medical staff in Volos to undergo further diagnostic examinations and establish the exact nature of the injury.
