Cantona unscathed in jet-ski accident

Bangkok, Thailand - Soccer hero Eric Cantona was involved in a minor jet-ski accident at a seaside resort but escaped uninjured, Thai newspapers reported on Thursday.

A Thai woman, the liaison for the French team during their stay, was slightly injured when Cantona's jet-ski hit hers, the reports said.

The former Manchester United star is in Thailand with the French national beach soccer team that is to play the Thai national team on Saturday.

The mass circulation Thai Rath and Daily News newspapers carried front-page pictures of a bedraggled Cantona, 35, being helped to shore on foot at the beach resort of Pattaya, 110km south of Bangkok. He showed no sign of injury.

Match promoter Praput Khamlangek was quoted as saying that Cantona threatened to cancel the rest of his program in Thailand if the accident was reported by the media.

Calls to Praput's office on Thursday rang unanswered. Police said they had not heard of any accident.

Praput was reported to have paid 4 000 baht (about R720) compensation to the owner of the jet skis for damage.

Cantona was mobbed by fans and autograph hunters at Bangkok airport when he arrived in soccer-crazy Thailand on Monday. He said he wanted to introduce beach soccer, a scaled down version of the sport that is played on sand, to the Thai people.

He played an exhibition game in Pattaya on Wednesday, The Nation newspaper reported. - Sapa-AP