MOSCOW, September 19 – A fan of the English football club Newcastle was stabbed in Milan before the match of the first round of the Champions League group stage against Milan, Sky Sports reports.

According to the source, the incident occurred on Monday evening. The victim, 58-year-old Eddie Mackay, was walking with his son and a friend in Milan when they were attacked by a group of seven or eight people wearing balaclavas. The Englishman was taken to hospital after being wounded. He is in stable condition.

Newcastle expressed deep concern about the incident and promised to look into the circumstances of the attack with the assistance of local authorities. It is noted that the police cannot yet name the reasons for the attack, or whether it was committed for football reasons.

Newcastle will play their first Champions League match in 20 years at the San Siro on Tuesday. About 4 thousand English fans will support the “magpies” in Milan.