WASHINGTON -- The lower stands of RFK Stadium turned into a white sea of "9s" as fans of the United States showed their support on Wednesday for forward Charlie Davies, who was in a hospital with career-threatening injuries.
In the ninth minute of the World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica, thousands of fans held up white cards with a black No. 9 -- Davies' jersey number -- while other fans waved large banners that read "Get Well Charlie" and "[heart] CD."
Two smoke bombs also went off during the ninth minute in the section where many of the most ardent fans sit for football games -- the bouncing bleachers on the north side of the RFK field.
The cards were the idea of the Baltimore Brigade supporters group to show support for Davies, who remained in serious but stable condition on Wednesday at Washington Hospital Center Medstar following a car accident early Tuesday.
U.S. teammate Jozy Altidore used his Twitter account to urge fans to send e-mails to Davies: "Ok guys u can send ALL your well wishes 2 Charlie, email charliedavies9 at yahoo.com, they r printing all notes and bringing them 2 him! THX"
Davies broke two bones in his right leg and one in his left elbow, and he sustained a lacerated bladder and facial fractures in the accident, which claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman. Davies had several hours of surgery, and additional operations will be required to stabilize the elbow and possibly the facial fractures.
Davies will be hospitalized for at least a week and is expected to take six to 12 months to recover, all but ruling him out for the World Cup, which begins in South Africa in June.
U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser said reconstructing the one-vehicle accident will be complicated and the investigation will take several days at least. Davies and the driver, whom authorities have not publicly identified, survived the crash, which took place in the Virginia suburbs around 3:15 a.m.
The 23-year-old Davies was a strong candidate to start for the U.S. at the World Cup. He played in 13 games this year, scoring three times. He started in the 3-2 victory over Honduras on Saturday that clinched the U.S. team's World Cup berth.
The president of Davies' French club Sochaux, Alexandre Lacombe, told French Football's Web site that Davies was in intensive care and will be confined to a bed for about a month and a half.
"We are in shock," Lacombe said. "In life you have to know how to put things in perspective. Charlie was close to death and a young woman aged 22 lost her life. His season is over, but what's most important is for him to be out of danger."
