Last Updated on 28/06/2025 by Crip Life
Sina Saman Nejad is an Iranian-born amputee footballer who has gone through immense trauma and resilience to be part of the Everton in the Community squad that will be competing in the upcoming Disability FA Cup final.
The EE Disability FA Cup Finals return to St. George’s Park on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June 2025. The weekend sees some of the best impairment-specific footballers in the country compete in six finals over two days, including amputee, partially sighted, blind, cerebral palsy, powerchair and deaf.
Ahead of this momentous occasion, our editor Emma Purcell was fortunate enough to speak to Sina about his journey to becoming an amputee footballer and his confidence in winning the FA Cup against Chelsea.
Scroll down for the amputee Disability FA Cup final result, match report and highlights.
Sina Saman Nejad on being introduced to amputee football
Sina Saman Nejad was struck by a car in February 2023 while riding his e-scooter, suffering catastrophic injuries that led to the amputation of his right foot and leg—he bled so heavily that doctors said he was “just 30 minutes away from dying”
Defying the odds, Sina made a miraculous recovery and has not only relearned to walk with a prosthetic but also returned to competitive football, now representing in amputee football.
Following his accident, Sina admitted he never thought he could get back to being a footballer, but thanks to the support of the Merseyside community, he managed to find his way back to the sport he loves:
“To be honest, my life is football, and my love is football. So after my accident, I got the opportunity with Everton in the Community to support me, and then they gave me the chance to go through the training with the team and improve myself.
“It’s a very good city. I live in Liverpool. Very good people, and my area is good. My neighbours are good, and my family, my friends. and church friends, all supported me to come back.”
Sina went on to explain how amputee football differs from mainstream football:
“Amputee football is completely different sport. Also known as football with crutches, the players play with one foot with the two crutches… and the teams are seven-a-side… It’s good for mental health and fitness activity.”
Everton’s preparations for the amputee FA Cup final
Described as “one of the best teams in Europe and England” by Sina, Everton in the Community’s amputee football team has emerged as a dominant force in English disability football, achieving significant success in national and European competitions.
They have secured four national league titles, including back-to-back championships in 2023–24, highlighted by key victories over rivals like Portsmouth and Chelsea.
In 2023, they won the FA Disability Cup with a commanding 4–2 win over Portsmouth, thanks to standout performances from Rhyce Ramsden, Liam Burbridge, and Jamie Oakey. Their domestic success earned them a spot in the 2024 EAFF Champions League in Italy, where they placed 5th on their debut, and they have qualified again for the 2025 tournament.
The team boasts several England internationals and GB players, with captain Martin Heald and rising stars like Jamie Oakey and Liam Burbridge leading both on the pitch and in promoting disability sport.
Other Everton players set to compete in the FA Cup final include Afghan Latif Ali, who helped launch Everton’s third kit in 2020, Phil Grace, who had four appearances for Everton in the EEDFAC, skiier Jack Whimpenny and army veteran Karl Boon.
Several other male players and all female players of the Everton squad are set to compete in respective International tournaments with England in Poland, and therefore won’t be taking part in the FA Cup final.
Speaking about Everton’s preparations for the 2025 amputee FA Cup final, Sina said:
“I’m ready. We are team ready. We are going to win the FA Cup final. But we’ve got a hard game against Chelsea. So we’ll all keep training. We’ve got a plan to win this tournament.
“I had the experience last year. Sadly, we lost against Portsmouth, but this year we’ve got the opportunity to win the FA Cup final, and I’m so ready to go to this tournament at the end of the month, so we’ll keep training.”
Chelsea’s squad is expected to line up with 17-year-old top goal scorer, Sofyan Filali, and military veteran Mark Smith, who was integral in helping set up the Chelsea Foundation amputee team.
Sina also expressed how important this game is because it will be broadcast on TV:
“This is also an important game for us this year because this is going to be live on TNT Sports, and they’ll be playing at St. George’s Park. So it should be a good atmosphere and a good feeling in the England home ground… I invite everyone to watch on TNT Sports from 10am.”
Growing amputee football for the next generation
Sina also spoke about his visit to the UEFA Foundation for Children and shared some advice for others interested in disability sport.
Off the pitch, Sina wanted to give a special mention to the UEFA Foundation for Children, which he had the pleasure of visiting. It supports disabled children by funding and running inclusive sports programmes, especially football and adapted activities that promote social integration, physical well-being, self-confidence, and life skills development.
Sina said: “With the Everton team, I visited the UEFA headquarters, where it has a program called the UEFA Foundation for Children, which works on the disabled side as well. The program is so brilliant… It invites and helps a lot of different disabled teams, especially amputees… its true goal is to support disabled children.”
Through initiatives like specialised teacher training in Jakarta and amputee football camps, the organisation breaks down barriers, empowers children, and helps them thrive both on and off the pitch.
Sina went on to advise other people pursuing an interest in accessing disability football or other disability sports, and makes the point that you can learn multiple activities for pleasure or to reach an elite level:
“If your body ready, fitness ready, and you’ve got the ambition, then you can do everything in any sport, to be honest. In disabled sport, I don’t have much experience in any other sports except football, but my swimming is good because it’s a daily fitness activity, and when I was a kid, I learnt football at the same time I learnt swimming, too.”
Sina concluded by highlighting that sport can be a leisurely daily activity for wellness and fitness. But it can also be a pathway to a professional career as long as you have the right plan, coaching and support.
Everton in the Community and Chelsea FC Foundation Will face each other in the amputee Disability FA Cup final on Saturday 28th June 2025 at 10am, live from St. George’s Park and broadcast on TNT Sports.
TNT Sports 1 will feature live subtitles and Sign Language interpretation, while a simulcast on TNT Sports 5 will provide alternative audio-described match commentary.
For free-to-air, highlights will be available on the TNT Sports YouTube channel post-game.
Everton vs Chelsea Match Report
Chelsea FC Foundation claimed victory in a hard-fought amputee final with a 2–0 win over Everton in the Community.
The breakthrough came early, as Chelsea were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute after Everton were penalised for handball. Darren Mitchell stepped up and converted, his shot ricocheting in off the post. Chelsea nearly doubled their lead moments later with a flurry of blocked efforts in the Everton box.
Everton responded well, testing the Chelsea keeper, Chris Ferguson, in the 15th minute through a powerful effort from Francis Antwi-Darkwah, which was well saved. At the other end, Chelsea continued to push, and in the 25th minute, substitute Jonathan Nyarko made an instant impact, finishing a brilliant cross from winger Sofyan Filali, who had beaten his man well on the byline.
On the stroke of halftime, Everton’s Francis Antwi-Darkwah came close again, cutting inside and striking the post as Everton pushed for a response.
The second half saw Everton create several promising chances and they pressed hard in the closing stages but failed to unlock the Chelsea defence.
Player of the Match Sofyan Filali almost grabbed Chelsea a third goal himself before the final whistle after an impressive solo run and chipped effort beat the keeper but rolled past the post.
You can find out more about amputee football by visiting the England Amputee Football Association website and following on Instagram.