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CAMEROONIAN FOOTBALLER EBOSSE ‘KILLED BY BEATING, NOT PROJECTILE’ – AUTOPSY

Douala – The death of Cameroonian footballer Albert Ebosse in Algeria in August was caused by a brutal post-match beating, not an object thrown by angry fans as initially claimed, a new autopsy has found.

Refuting official Algerian findings that the striker was killed by a sharp projectile thrown from the stands, the analysis by a Cameroonian pathologist claims the 24-year-old’s death was the result of “brutal aggression” during a probable locker room attack.

Cameroonian pathologist Andre Moune told AFP from Douala Wednesday that he found Ebosse had suffered upper body injuries that indicated “signs of struggle”.

The official Algerian version holds that Ebosse died in hospital on August 23 from head injuries sustained as he left the pitch under a hail of objects thrown from the stands following the 2-1 loss of Ebosse’s JS Kabylie to visiting Algiers club USMA.

Algerian Sports Minister Mohamed Tahmi said at the time the death had been caused by him being struck by a piece of sharp slate.

The incident led to the JS Kabylie club being banned from pan-African competitions for two years, and forced to play home league matches in empty stadia.

But results of Moune’s autopsy at the Ebosse family’s request flatly reject the Algerian version of events.

During the struggle, the report said, Ebosse received “a blow to the head” that caused “an indentation of the skull” that impacted his brain.

Other signs of violence included “rupture of cervical vertebrae” and a collarbone wound “that we believe must have been caused by a knife.”

His findings have been sent to Algerian and Cameroonian authorities for further action.

Tahmi has refused to comment on the autopsy results, deferring to final inquiries by Algerian justice authorities that are yet to be delivered.

During Saturday’s press conference on the autopsy, Ebosse’s family said they had urged Cameroonian authorities and the Confederation of African Football to take action on the new evidence.

They also noted neither JS Kabylie — where Ebosse was the top scorer last season — nor the Algerian league had made good on promises after the tragedy to provide financial compensation to the family for their loss.