Royal Antwerp star Eliot Matazo was reportedly in a tragic road accident that resulted in the death of an elderly cyclist.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning, May 12, and was unavoidable for Matazo, as one 85-year-old cyclist reportedly ran a red light.
The midfielder who is currently on loan from Monaco, has been deeply impacted by the accident as per The Sun.
The 22-year-old Matazo was tested for alcohol and drugs by the police, with both tests coming back negative.
Meanwhile, it is believed that the deceased’s decision to pass through a red light led to the unavoidable collision.
Antwerp have issued a statement confirming the tragic incident and noted that an investigation is underway.
A statement from Antwerp read: “This morning Eliot Matazo was involved in a serious traffic accident with a cyclist. According to initial findings, the cyclist may have been blinded by the sun and drove through a red light.
“As is usual in these types of accidents, Eliot was given a saliva and alcohol test and both were negative. There are also no indications that there was excessive speed.
“Without wishing to prejudge the investigation into the accident, all elements, including the statements of witnesses, point to an unfortunate accident.”
The club expressed that Eliot is deeply affected by the incident and that both the player and the club will refrain from making any further comments until the investigation concludes.
The club added: “Eliot is extremely affected by the events and neither player nor club will make any further statements until the investigation is completed.
“Our thoughts go out to the cyclist and his family, and Eliot and the club hope for a happy outcome.”
Fans also reacted by sending their well wishes to Matazo, with one saying: “Good luck to all parties involved. Hopefully, no one will be left seriously damaged by this. You can repair means of transport, but your mind and body are a lot more difficult.”
Another person said: “Poor guy, a dream start to his career and increasingly difficult thereafter”
“Hope everyone does well in this story.”
The footballer’s recovery process is ongoing and the medical team is closely monitoring his progress.
Who is Eliot Matazo?
Eliot Matazo is a professional footballer from Belgium born on February 15, 2002.
The 22-year-old plays as a midfielder for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League, currently on loan from AS Monaco.
Matazo had his professional debut for AS Monaco on September 27, 2020, in a Ligue 1 match against RC Strasbourg and netted his first Ligue 1 goal on May 9, 2021, in a 1-0 away victory over Reims.
As of this season, Matazo has made 10 appearances for Royal Antwerp since being loaned from Monaco on February 1, 2024.
