Bosnian goalkeeper Duško Krtalica played on with a bullet in his head after being shot during an amateur football match in the Sarajevo suburb of Boljakov Potok.

Krtalica, aged 51, complained of a “headache” but played through the pain after assuming it had been caused by getting hit on the head by the ball.

According to Sarajevo newspaper Dnevni Avaz, the 51-year-old completed the match, but soon complained of a stiff arm and had difficulty speaking:

He was driven to a local hospital, where doctors were shocked to see that a 9mm bullet was clearly lodged in his skull.

Krtalica was immediately transferred to the department of neurosurgery and the bullet was removed. A hospital spokesman said the operation was a success and he is now in a stable condition.

Following a police investigation, three weddings in Boljakov Potok were identified to have taken place that day.

It was deduced that Duško Krtalica had been hit by a stray bullet from someone firing a handgun in celebration.

Reports suggest that:

A 42-year-old local named Seyne Ligata was subsequently arrested and his pistol was seized. A further 12 shells were found near the football field, suggesting it was very lucky that no one else was injured.

See above for the x-ray!

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