Fadiga dicing with death, says specialist

Bolton midfielder Khalilou Fadiga has been warned he will be risking his life if he carries on playing football.

Professor Marcello Chimienti, the specialist who first diagnosed Fadiga’s heart condition, has warned the Senegalese 29-year-old that one fall or kick could kill him in an instant.

Fadiga is determined to resurrect his career after an operation to fit an automatic defibrillator to correct an irregular heartbeat.

But his long-standing heart condition led to him collapsing during the warm-up for a Carling Cup tie against Tottenham in October.

“Fadiga should live his life quietly and give up playing football. It is extremely dangerous for him to want to continue playing while wearing a defibrillator,” said Chimienti, who discovered Fadiga’s condition in July 2003 while the player was at Inter Milan.

“It is a device that can stop just as easily as it can work.

“The machine is so delicate, if it gets hit by a ball during a match, or if the player falls onto his shoulder or takes a kick from an opponent, it will stop functioning – and this will lead to his instant death.

“He should not be allowed to play football and even having another operation will not alter his problem one bit.”