Albert Ebosse: New tests claim Cameroonian died after beating

BBC Sports

New post-mortem tests claim Cameroonian footballer Albert Ebosse died in Algeria as a result of a beating rather than being hit by a projectile.

The JS Kabylie striker died in August after his side lost a league match.

Findings by the Algerian authorities stated that the 24-year-old was killed by a sharp projectile thrown by fans.

But tests by a pathologist, at the request of his family, claim his death was the result of "brutal aggression" during a possible locker room attack.

Andre Moune's report said Ebosse had suffered upper body injuries that indicated "signs of struggle".

The official Algerian version suggested that Ebosse died in hospital on 23 August from head injuries sustained as he left the pitch under a hail of objects thrown from the stands.

Albert Ebosse's body was returned to Cameroon after his death

At the time, Algerian sports minister Mohamed Tahmi said Ebosse died after 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 stadiums.

But results of Moune's post-mortem examination have rejected the official Algerian version of events.

Moune's report said that, during the struggle, 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 wound to the shoulder.

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

Tahmi has refused to comment on the new test results.

Ebosse's family said they had urged Cameroonian authorities and the Confederation of African Football to take action following the new evidence.

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