Guido Burgstaller fractures skull in attack in Vienna

Austrian striker Guido Burgstaller suffered a skull fracture when he was attacked in the center of the country’s capital, his club Rapid Vienna reported.

Rapid said the 35-year-old is expected to be out of action for several months after suffering a “serious head injury” at the weekend.

The former Cardiff City striker was attacked by a “stranger” and fractured his skull when he fell after a “brutal blow.”

The 35-year-old, capped 26 times by Austria, was examined at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he will remain for the next few days.

In a statement, Rapid said they “trust the responsible authorities that the still unknown perpetrator will be brought to justice quickly.”

Burgstaller joined Cardiff from Rapid in 2014, becoming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing for the Welsh club.

He made just three appearances for the Bluebirds before joining German club Nurnberg.

Burgstaller also played in Germany for Schalke and St Pauli before returning to Rapid in 2022.

He was one of three Austria players sacked by manager Ralf Rangnick in 2023 after they were filmed singing homophobic chants following a 3–0 win against city rivals Austria Vienna.