The firework exploded near Hashtag United player Matas Skrna. Photo: Hashtag United
The firework exploded near Hashtag United player Matas Skrna. Photo: Hashtag United
The firework exploded near Hashtag United player Matas Skrna. Photo: Hashtag United
The firework exploded near Hashtag United player Matas Skrna. Photo: Hashtag United

Hashtag United footballer 'nearly blinded' by rogue firework on pitch


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The founder of Hashtag United football club has said a firework that exploded on the pitch during a match held on Bonfire Night could have "blinded" one of his players.

The incident occurred as Hashtag United's reserve team played Concord Rangers reserves on November 5 at the Len Salmon Stadium in Basildon, about 55 kilometres east of London.

The Essex Senior League Reserve Division One game was abandoned after the firework exploded near Matas Skrna.

A video of the incident was later posted on the club's Twitter account.

A club representative said a volunteer went to a nearby house and asked the residents to halt their firework display.

The display continued and the match was abandoned, after which the fireworks stopped, the representative said.

Hashtag United is a football and esports club in Essex. It was formed in 2016 by presenter and social media personality Spencer Owen.

The club has a men's team that plays in the eighth tier of English football and a women's team that plays in the fourth tier. More than 500,000 people subscribe to its YouTube account.

Mr Owen tweeted after the incident that Skrna could have suffered a serious injury as a result of the incident.

"Yet another reason to add to the list of reasons to sack off fireworks," he said.

"Dog owners know exactly what I'm saying. Glad Matas is OK.

"A few inches different and our lad could have been blinded. Not the only football game something like this happened at last night either."

The club said the police had been notified.

UAE tour of the Netherlands

UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match

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What is a virtual bank?

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.

What’s the draw in Asia?

Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.

Is Hong Kong short of banks?

No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year. 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

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2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

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2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie

Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)

Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. 

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Nations League

League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)

Updated: November 07, 2021, 6:59 AM`