Doctor explains Meghni’s case

Medical staff chief of Algeria’s football team said he did not take any decision about player Mourad Meghni, denying all statements and allegations made on his behalf.

• Doctor Hakim Chalabi told Echorouk he did not talk to media about the injured player who was ruled out of the World Cup. “Things were very clear and Aspetar hospital had nothing to do with the non recovery of Meghni.”
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• Even with surgery, he would not play in the World Cup
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• Aspetar’s vice-director said there were two choices when Meghni came on March 23 for treatment in Qatar. “The first choice was to undergo a surgery while the second one was to follow an intensive medical programme.”
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• Saint Germain’s former doctor believes that the player would have been ruled out of the World Cup if he underwent the surgery.
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• “If Meghni underwent the surgery, he would not have been able to play for four months (until July 2010). So, it would be impossible that he plays in the World Cup.”
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• Treatment was decided unanimously
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• Chalabi said there was a secret agreement between all the staff to not make the play undergo the surgery because he would be absent in the World Cup.
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• Finally, surgery is the best solution to treat the player
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• Chalabi said the player did not recover completely when he left the hospital on April 29. “He was informed that surgery is the only solution to make him back to competition.”
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• The doctor defended the Qatari hospital, saying the objective was to follow up the Algerian players’ health state and to assess fatigue factors.