Fgura captain Dylan Caruana placed in induced coma after on-pitch collision

Dylan Caruana, the Fgura United captain injured in an on-pitch incident on Sunday, has been placed in an induced coma and remains in intensive care, Times of Malta is informed.

Caruana, 30, was injured in a head-to-head clash with teammate Alan Abdel Rahman during the final minutes of a match against St Andrews held at Ta’ Qali’s centenary stadium on Sunday morning. Both players were taken to hospital for treatment.

Caruana in action for Fgura. File photo

According to sources, Abdel Rahman was released from hospital on Monday evening. However, Caruana’s condition remains serious after suffering severe head injuries. Sources say Caruana remains in intensive care at Mater Dei Hospital and has been placed in an induced coma.

In a statement on Tuesday, Fgura United confirmed that Abdel Rahman had been discharged, with Caruana still receiving treatment at hospital.

The club expressed its gratitude towards the football community and the public for their support at this time, adding that it was “taking the necessary professional measures to support the club’s athletes and staff”.

On Monday, the Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) said it “will remain in close contact with the club to offer any support or assistance as may be required”.

Several other clubs also posted messages of support on their social media channels on Monday and Tuesday.

The Armed Forces of Malta also wished Caruana, an AFM official, a speedy recovery in a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon.

Sources say Caruana received emergency treatment within minutes of the collision. However, the incident is likely to reignite discussions about the availability of essential medical facilities and services at local stadiums.

The matter was first raised a decade ago, when MFPA highlighted a series of incidents in which players requiring emergency medical attention had to wait for an ambulance to turn up.

In 2019, Sta Venera Lightnings player Yau Mun Law collapsed on the pitch and was given immediate treatment from the Malta FA paramedic on duty at the Centenary Stadium, before being taken to Mater Dei Hospital for further treatment.

However, the incident sparked calls for health protocols to be revised, with one of Mun Law’s teammates saying it took 30 minutes for paramedics to arrive on scene.

Last year, MFA beefed up its provision of health services during matches, deploying three ambulances distributed across Malta to cover all football venues across the country, should an emergency arise during a match.