The death of a football player who practiced magic rituals on the field!

Igiraneza Emi Gueric, a player for the club “Les Guéberts du Lac” in the Burundian second division, died last Saturday, after he fell unconscious during an official match before he was taken to the hospital, where he died.

The Burundian Football Federation issued an official statement confirming that the incident occurred during its team’s match against LLB Amasebere Never Give Up at the National Technical Center Stadium in Ngajar. The Federation expressed its deep sadness and deep condolences to the player’s family, his club, and the football fans in the country, noting that medical teams intervened quickly to save his life, but efforts failed while he was transported to the hospital.

While the federation did not officially announce the direct cause of death, the Russia Today website quoted media outlets in Burundi, including Radio Africa Public, testimonies of the player’s teammates, which revealed that Igiraneza lost consciousness as a result of severe suffocation after swallowing a coin that he was hiding in his mouth.

This practice is known in some African circles as “amulets” or magical rituals, which are believed to grant protection or good luck, but it is strictly prohibited in Burundian football regulations, as are all rituals associated with what is known as “Voodoo”.