Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has injured his hand while playing football, according to an Instagram post by the Foreign Ministry.
On Monday, the Foreign Ministry Instagram account posted a photo of Lavrov with his right arm in a sling with the caption: “This is not a work injury caused by dozens of telephone conversations with colleagues. It is slight injury caused by football. Can we wish the minister a speedy recovery on your behalf?”
In late May, the foreign minister played with the over-45s Russian National Football league in a gala match, held in Moscow. No injuries were reported at the time.
This is not the first time that Lavrov has suffered notable injuries. In December 2012, the foreign minister attended a NATO meeting in Brussels with a bandaged left arm and bruised lips.
At the time, the Foreign Ministry made a statement regarding the “light sports injury,” and The Associated Press cited a friend of the foreign minister who said Lavrov had injured himself while playing football on the concrete surface of an ice hockey rink that had no ice.
The Euro 2016 football tournament begins on June 10, in 10 host cities throughout France. The Russia squad will play England on Saturday, June 11 — they are in Group B, along with Wales and Slovakia.
Security will be heightened throughout the tournament following terror threats and French President Francois Hollande has confirmed that 90,000 officers will provide security, international media reported Monday.
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