Rapid Vienna club said that Austrian striker Guido Burgstaller suffered a fracture in his skull when he was attacked in the center of the Austrian capital.
Rapid said the 35-year-old is expected to be out of action for several months after suffering a “serious head injury” at the weekend.
They say the former Cardiff City striker was attacked by an “unidentified man” and fractured his skull when he fell after a “brutal blow”.
The 35-year-old player, who participated in 26 matches with the Austrian national team, underwent examination at the scene of the accident before being taken to hospital, where he will remain for the next few days.
Rapid said in a statement that they “trust the responsible authorities that the so far unknown perpetrator will be brought to justice quickly.”
Burgstaller joined Cardiff from Rapid in 2014, becoming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's second signing for the Welsh club.
He made just three appearances for the Bluebirds before joining German club Nuremberg.
Burgstaller also played in Germany for Schalke and St. Pauli before returning to Rapid in 2022.
He was one of three players from Austria dropped by manager Ralf Rangnick in 2023 after they were filmed singing homophobic chants following a 3-0 win over city rivals Austria Wien.
