A player in the North American Soccer League was attacked Friday while sitting in his seat on an Atlanta-bound Air Canada flight, reports CNN.

Oliver Minatel, 22, was traveling with teammates from the Ottawa Fury Football Club when a man sitting behind him attempted to strangle him with a cord for no apparent reason or provocation.

Minatel said he was sleeping when he felt something around his neck.

"With a rope, something that he has, he just jumped on me. That's what happened," Minatel told CNN.

After being pulled off Minatel, the man was forced by the crew and passengers to remain seated until the plane landed and the FBI could detain the man.

His team is scheduled to play the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL on Saturday.