Hapoel J'lem star attacked in March by criminal with whom he had falling-out, according to local paper.
By ALLON SINAItapiro hapoel 88(photo credit: )
Jerusalem police announced on Thursday that it would investigate the alleged stabbing of former Hapoel Jerusalem star Meir Tapiro, which was revealed earlier in the day by local Jerusalem newspaper Kol Hazman.
According to the paper, Tapiro was stabbed at Malha Arena on March 8 by a local criminal who he had fallen out with.
Tapiro, who remained in the arena after the team's training session ended, was alone in the premises after all the players and staff had already left, Kol Hazman said.
The newspaper claimed that the guard was lightly injured, fled the arena and sought refuge at the nearby home of then Jerusalem player Ed Cota.
Hapoel's team doctor Yonatan Marvaski was allegedly called to Cota's home and treated Tapiro secretly.
"I was told Meir had a problem and that he needed immediate help," Marvaski told Kol Hazman. "He had a hand injury and was bleeding. I didn't ask any questions. I treated him without knowing what happened."
The incident was reportedly kept secret from Jerusalem players, staff and coach Dan Shamir, who was told that the guard will not attend practice the following day because he had come down with the flu.
Three days later Tapiro played just three minutes in Jerusalem's game against Maccabi Givat Shmuel, scoring no points and just two assists.
Tapiro chose not to press charges against the attacker, according to Kol Hazman, but nevertheless Jerusalem police decided on Thursday to look further into the matter. A Jerusalem police spokesman on Thursday evening confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the police is looking into the claims.
The player, who left Hapoel for Bnei Hasharon earlier this week, thoroughly denied the story and claimed that the incident had been fabricated by the paper.
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