A 1-0 win had kept Greece at the top of their Euro 2004 qualifying group, but things turned sour for the transfer-listed defender when his car careered into traffic lights in the centre of Athens and promptly caught fire.
Fortunately Dabizas managed to escape from his vehicle before it was alight and was admitted to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken arm.
If Dabizas chooses to read any of the Press Association’s coverage of the incident it is hardly likely to speed his recovery as they describe him as "the former Newcastle defender" and "Dabizas released by Newcastle at the end of last season", which must come as news to him.