One-legged footballer Pierre Kaiser joins regular team SG Dormitz Brand II in Bavaria

Pierre Kaiser lost his right leg in 2007 and had never really played football before, according to reports in Germany, but after his accident, he started to train as part of his rehabilitation.

The 35-year-old has been using crutches ever since and was allowed to have them on the pitch for the match between SG Dormitz Brand II and TSV Behringersdorf II.

Kaiser was allowed to play after the Bavarian Football Association and its chairman Uwe Mauckner granted him a licence.

The Bavarian Football Association said: "Touching the ball with the crutches is considered hand ball – otherwise everything remains largely the same... Football is for everyone. For us, that is not just an empty phrase, but the credo by which we live in the association. For us, there was no question at all that we would comply with Pierre Kaiser's wish and grant a player's right to play quickly and without red tape."

Kaiser was substituted for SG Dormitz Brand II in the final phase of the match on Sunday and was ultimately able to celebrate a 2-1 victory with his teammates.

Kaiser said: "I quickly realised that things like riding a bike are also possible with one leg. That gave me courage and showed me that life is worth living even with an amputated leg."

He made it onto the amputee football team Anpfiff Hoffenheim and into Germany's national amputee team. And now he has played his first regular football match.

Story: NewsX