A SUNDERLAND football fan is suing his favourite team after being knocked out by a stray shot in a training session.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has revealed that a supporter has launched legal action against the club after he was struck by a shot by former striker Djibril Cisse in a practise game.

During an interview on a BBC radio phone-in, Quinn told how the fan was knocked unconscious and is now suing the club.

The club boss was asked on BBC Newcastle’s Total Sport programme by a caller whether the club would allow fans to watch their heroes train, which had been allowed previously.

Quinn replied: “We had a supporter who got a bad injury. I think it was one of Djibril Cisse’s misses where he had a shot from 20 yards.

“I’m making fun of it now, but it knocked a supporter out. It was quite serious.

“That supporter is in the process of suing us right now.”

Presenter Simon Pryde expressed his surprise that legal action was being taken. “It was one of those things,” Quinn replied.

A spokeswoman for Sunderland AFC declined to comment further when contacted by The Journal.

Last night a personal injuries solicitor said the supporter had little chance of winning the case. Kirsten Scott, of Beecham Peacock Solicitors, based in Collingwood Street in Newcastle, said: “To make a claim, you would have to prove fault and that it was of negligence. It is the actual act that is important. It all depends on the circumstances.

“The claimant would have to prove that it was reckless and negligent of the football club in order to have a case.

“If it was purely accidental, I wouldn’t have thought he would have a claim.

“In my view, it’s normal for the ball to end up in the crowd, it was just unfortunate that he sustained those injuries.”