Israeli expert treats man badly burned in football violence (Updated)

A medical expert from Israel has treated the 20-year-old man who suffered burns to 45 per cent of his body during violent incidents involving football fans last week, by putting artificial skin over his wounds, it was reported on Saturday.

A doctor from the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Sheba medical centre at Tel HaShomer, who arrived on the island from Israel to examine Evripides Frangou earlier this week, has recommended the burn victim continue his treatment in Cyprus.

Media reported that a special device for the manufacture of artificial skin was brought from Israel and was used on Friday to cover the burned surface to allow Frangou’s own skin to heal without the need to constantly change the dressings.

The young man, who is being treated at the Nicosia general hospital, has burns on his face, ear, hands, feet and back.

According to reports, the man was injured by a Molotov cocktail explosion as he was passing by the Antonis Papadopoulos stadium in Larnaca while walking his dog before the Anorthosis-Apollon football match.

According to reports, fans of the two football teams had started small fires with fireworks in a field opposite the stadium which were put out by police and the fire service.

It remains unclear whether the man stepped on an object that ignited or if someone threw the explosive mechanism at him.

For the case, three men were charged in writing after admitting involvement in the incidents while 12 more are still wanted. Their details and photos have been published on police’s website.

Meanwhile, police are still waiting for Frangou’s doctors to give the green light so he can give his own testimony and shed light on how the explosion was caused.

To prevent similar incidents, police and the ministry of justice on Friday decided on measures on how to deal with inherent hooliganism, before the Apollon – Apoel match at 7pm on Sunday in Limassol.

The meeting was attended by Apoel’s president and director and the vice president of Apollona, as well as the security officers from the Cyprus FA and Tsirio Stadium and the security officers of both teams.

During the meeting, football fans were called upon to comply with the instructions of the police, while Apoel fans will have until 6.30pm to enter Tsirio stadium.