Man, 34, electrocuted after it was his turn to fetch ball during five-a-side

A leisure center has been charged over the death of a footballer who was electrocuted during a five-a-side match in 2016.

Albert Xhediku, 34, went to retrieve a ball which had gone over a fence during a match with friends at the Mountbatten center in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

He accidentally touched a floodlight and was hit by a surge of electricity, causing him to have seizure.

Now, nine years on from his death, Parkwood Community Leisure Ltd – the company which ran the five-a-side pitch at the time – will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on December 4 after it was charged with failing to protect the public, the Health

Mr Xhediku, who worked as a taxi driver, died on January 17, 2016.

Despite resusitation efforts by his friends, he never regained consciousness.

The victim was pronounced dead at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth later that evening.

Mr Xhediku’s family previously said: ‘Albert was a guy who did everything with all his heart.

‘Even when he was just playing football with his friends, he played like it was the championships.

‘He was our big brother and a loving son.’

An inquest into his death previously heard how Mr Xhediku ‘screamed and suffered a seizure’.

His friends also suffered electric shocks as they pulled him down from the floodlight.

Coroner Lincoln Brookes said: ‘Albert was electrocuted whilst playing five-a-side football with his friends at Mountbatten Leisure center.

‘The ball went out of the pitch. It was his turn to fetch the ball.

‘On his return it seems he touched a floodlight and its lamppost, and in doing so he received a fatal shock from that floodlight, and despite the best efforts of his friends and indeed emergency services he was confirmed dead at Queen Alexandra Hospital later that evening.’

Parkwood Community Leisure Ltd said in a statement: ‘The incident in 2016 resulted in the tragic loss of Albert Xhediku’s life.

‘Our deepest thoughts remain with his family, friends and all those affected by the events of that day.

‘Due to the ongoing proceedings Parkwood Community Leisure Ltd is unable to comment further at this time.’

A Health & Safety Executive spokesperson said: ‘Parkwood Community Leisure Ltd has been charged with the following offense: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 [“the Act”], failed to discharge the duty to which it was subject by virtue of section 3(1) of the Act.

‘A first hearing date has been set at Portsmouth Magistrates Court before District Judge on December 4, 2025 at 2pm.

‘However, it is possible this date might well be adjourned until January 29 next year.’

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