Aron Palmarsson beaten up in late night brawl

Aron Palmarsson, handball player with Kiel in Germany and the Icelandic national team, was njured in a late night brawl downtown Reykjavik this past weekend. National coach Aron Kristjansson says Palmarsson will nevertheless play with the national team in the World Cup in Qatar in January.

Kristjansson said he was in shock when he heard about the attack. According to him Palmarsson was swollen and Kristjansson confirmed that Palmarsson would not train with the national team today. Iceland will play Germany Sunday and Monday with both teams preparing for Qatar.

The Icelandic handball association is expected to comment on the attack during today's training session. Palmarsson will not train with the national team today.

Next thing I know I'm lying on the street

Palmarsson says he was entering a taxi with his cousin when two men attacked him Friday night. Palmarsson has missed two training sessions with the national team due to the attack.

RUV quotes Palmarsson who says the attack came out of the blue. He was entering a taxi downtown Reykjavik with his cousin when two men attacked him.

"The next thing I know I'm lying on the street and the men are gone," says Palmarsson. He was taken to the emergency room and has since rested and used pain killers.

Palmarsson has reported the incident to the police and says that Gudmundur B. Olafsson, the chairman of the Icelandic Handball Association (HSI), will answer further questions.

"I'm not going to allow these men to get away with this. The attack has already meant I've missed two training sessions with the national team."

Updated news at 5pm

National coach Aron Kristjansson says the injury is more serious than first thought. Palmarsson has a bruised zygomatic bone while it was first thought he only had a cut on his eyebrow. Kristjansson still expects Palmarsson to recover in time for the World Cup in Qatar. Iceland's first match is against Sweden January 16th.