AMSTERDAM: The world players’ union FIFPro is calling for an urgent inquiry into medical treatment administered to players under the care of at least four first-division football clubs in Cyprus.

A statement said it understood players at these clubs have had unidentified substances administered, some of them intravenously, to aid their physical recovery. Three of these players have been diagnosed recently with a serious heart condition.

FIFPro has written to the Cyprus Football Association, the Cyprus Sports Organization and European governing body UEFA expressing concern and asking for their immediate assistance.

Because of concerns there is a link between the unidentified substances and the serious heart condition of the three players, FIFPro is calling for football authorities to help identify what was administered to them and to establish if their teammates are in danger.

The substances are understood to have been administered since the start of the 2017-18 season. Some of the players under the care of the four football clubs last season have since left Cyprus to continue their careers elsewhere.

FIFPro and the Cyprus player union (PASP) are providing medical and financial support to the three footballers diagnosed with a serious heart condition.

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