brettig
New Yorker
Foe dies after game
From correspondents in Lyon, France
June 27, 2003
CAMEROON international footballer Marc Vivien Foe died today after playing for his country in the Confederations Cup semi-final with Colombia. He was 28
The 28-year-old was stretchered off the pitch in the 72nd minute unconscious amidst fears that he had swallowed his tongue.
The Lyon club player, who spent last season on loan with Manchester City, had not been the victim of a foul when he collapsed in the middle of the field.
Play was held up for six minutes as the stricken player, winning his 62nd cap, was taken to the touchline to receive attention.
A FIFA doctor confirmed the news of the death at the medical centre of Lyon football club's Stade Gerland shortly after the match which the African champions won 1-0.
"Marc Vivien Foe, who fainted, was taken to the medical block at the stadium to be placed under cardiac reanimation for 45 minutes. That was not sufficient and he died. It is a sad day for football," said Dr Alfred Muller.
"It is still too early to determine the exact cause of death."
Muller added that the coach of Cameroon, German Winfried Schaefer, and Francisco Maturana of Colombia will not be making any statement on the tragedy.
Sources said that Foe had complained of feeling unwell on Tuesday in St Etienne and had consulted a doctor. But there was no confirmation of the report.
Cameroon football federation spokesman Charles Nguini said that it was possible that Foe had suffered a heart attack. He also said the team were considering whether or not to play Sunday's final.
"We do not know if we will play or not. We will decide after a meeting.
"This is a very sad moment for us and our country," said Nguini.
At the Stade de France in Paris, where France were facing Turkey in the other semi-final, a minute's silence was observed while players such as Thierry Henry and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet were in tears as the teams lined up.
Spectators at the stadium were informed of the tragedy.
"In tragic circumstances, the player Marc Vivien Foe died this afternoon," said the stadium announcer before the minute's silence was observed.
"FIFA and all of the football family sends its sincere condolences to his family and friends."
A photograph of the player was shown on the giant screen during the minute's silence.
Coupet and Sidney Govou, both team-mates of Foe at Lyon, both broke down in tears as the national anthems were played while French coach Jacques Santini, who used to be in charge at the French champions, also had tears in his eyes.
When Henry opened the scoring for France early in the match, he pointed to the sky, in an apparent dedication of the goal to Foe.
The player, who also turned out for West Ham in his career, was all alone in the middle of the pitch when he fell to the ground.
Both sets of players gathered round Foe as he received attention.
Foe had been hoping to make his move to Manchester City permanent but had been frustrated after French champions Lyon refused to lower his transfer fee of ?7 million ($17.55m).
The two-time African Nations Cup-winning midfielder had a hugely successful loan spell with City scoring nine goals in 35 appearances ? a far cry from a miserable time he had at West Ham in the 1999-2000 campaign.
Foe, who appeared in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals, had, like City boss Kevin Keegan, called for Lyon to lower their asking price claiming it was too much for a player with just a year remaining on his contract.
Marc Vivien Foe factfile
Born: May 1, 1975 at Nkolo, Cameroon
Height: 190cm
Weight: 87kg
Club: Manchester City, England
Position: Midfield
The dynamic midfielder signed on loan for Manchester City from Lyon in June 2002. He started his European career in France, playing under current Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier at Lens, helping the northern outfit to the French title for the first time in 1996.
Foe was expected to move to Manchester United in 1998 but broke his leg ahead of the 1998 World Cup finals and saw the transfer called off.
He eventually signed for West Ham, but lasted only a season making 25 appearances before returning to France in a switch that involved Frederic Kanoute.
In the (northern) summer of 2000 he went down with malaria before recovering to become a key member of the Lyon side that won the French title in 2001-02, another first for the club. While at the 2002 World Cup, he played all three games before Cameroons exit.
Agence France-Presse
