Stephane Omeonga, who had two spells with the Easter Road outfit, has shared shocking footage of the incident as he was thrown to the ground by police and shouted at them
Former footballer Stephane Omeonga forcibly removed from aircraft
Ex-Hibs and Livingston ace Stephane Omeonga has shared shocking footage of Italian police forcibly ejecting him from a plane on Christmas Day.
The Belgian footballer, who now plays for Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin, alleges he was boarding a flight from Rome to Tel Aviv when the incident unfolded on December 25, following an air steward’s query over his travel documents. Omeonga shared the moment to his Instagram account, in which the 28-year-old is seen pleading with two officers that he is a “football player” and a “Belgian citizen”, before handcuffs are brandished.
One officer then cuffs the player, to which he responds, “What are you doing? Are you insane? ” The officer then grabs Omeonga’s head and wraps his arms around his neck.
The clip then cuts to show the footballer being escorted off the plane while continuing to insist that he is a “Belgian citizen.”
In his post, Omeonga claimed he was a “victim of police brutality”, with several fellow footballers expressing their shock at the footage and offering words of support. Omeonga joined Hibernian in January 2019 before going on loan back to Belgium and rejoining the team for another stint in 2020.
He signed for Livingston on a two-year deal in August 2021. The footballer alleged that after being removed from the plane, the police continued to be physically violent towards him, reports the Daily Record.
Omeonga was later released but claims he still hasn’t been given a reason for his arrest.
He recounted the harrowing experience: “On December 25, I was a victim of police brutality. During a flight between Rome and Tel Aviv, after boarding the plane and taking my seat, a steward approached me about an alleged issue with my documents and asked me to leave the aircraft. Confident in the validity of my documents, I calmly asked him what kind of issue.
“The police were called, and I was handcuffed and forcibly removed from the plane. Once outside the aircraft, away from the view of witnesses, the police violently threw me to the ground, beat me, and one of them pressed his knee against my head.
“I was then taken in a police vehicle, handcuffed like a criminal, to the airport. An ambulance arrived, but in a state of shock, I was unable to respond to the paramedics’ questions. Shortly after, I heard over the police car’s radio, ‘He refused medical care; everything is fine.’ This was completely false. I asked them to take me in the ambulance with them, scared of what the police might do to me.
“Next, I was placed in a grey room, without food or water, and left in a state of total humiliation for several hours. Upon my release, I learned that a police officer had filed a complaint against me for injuries allegedly caused during the arrest, even though I was handcuffed. Furthermore, to this day, I have not received any justification for my arrest.”
Omeonga stated: “As a human being and a father, I cannot tolerate any form of discrimination. This arrest is just the visible tip of the iceberg. Many people who look like me cannot find work, have no access to housing, or cannot participate in the sports they love, simply because they are Black.”
Former Hibs and Livingston star Marvin Bartley hit back: “Words fail me! Going into 2025, my small wish is that everyone is treated the same all around the WORLD! ! !
“That’s all it remains, though. In our lifetime, it will never be the case. It’s tiring! I hope you’re well and, more importantly, safe, brother!”
Beram Kayal added: “Love, brother. Hope you’re okay and feeling good.”
“I’m sure you’re strong, and you will keep fighting for the good in this life.”
The Daily Star has sought comments from Omeonga, Flyyo and Rome’s airport authority on the incident.