Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died on Thursday after collapsing during his country's Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia.

 

Foe being carried away on a stretcher from the Confederations Cup pitch.

Foe, who spent last season on loan at English premier league Manchester City from French club Olympique Lyon, was carried off on a stretcher after collapsing 15 minutes from the end of the match, won 1-0 by Cameroon.

 Alfred Mueller, FIFA's Swiss medical officer for Lyon, told a news conference: "I have to give you very sad information. The player Marc-Vivien Foe has died.

 "This is a very sad day for football, for FIFA and for the player's family. This is all we can say at the moment."

 FIFA, who said there would be an autopsy to determine the circumstances of the death, later issued a statement saying Foe had "collapsed to the ground in the second half, around the 72nd minute, for no apparent reason.

 "The player was still alive when he was taken to the medical centre in Gerland stadium in Lyon, where he died. Doctors performed cardiac resuscitation for 45 minutes without success."

 'FIFA SHOCKED'

 FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who learned the news the Stade de France (for the second semi-final) at the same time as France and Turkey teams and also the spectators, said in the statement: "FIFA and the whole family of football are shattered by this unbelievable tragedy.

 "On their behalf, I wish to convey our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones, to Cameroon football and his club, and express all our support at this painful time. Football has lost a remarkable player and a remarkable man."

 FIFA press chief Hedi Hamel said players of both teams were in a state of shock and, forgoing their showers and still wearing their match kit, joined each other in prayers.

 "They were stunned and it was a moment of great emotion for the Colombian players who were also in a state of shock.

 "There is great solidarity among them and an extraordinary chain of friendship has been formed.

 "A lot of Colombian players prayed immediately after (the news of Foe's death) and were joined (in prayer) by the Cameroon players," he said.

 "It was a terrible scene."

 Hamel also said: "Marc-Vivien Foe was with us yesterday and the day before, he seemed happy and enjoying life; his one love was to play football and he really wanted to play this match."

 MINUTE'S SILENCE

 Asked if the final in Paris on Sunday would go ahead, Hamel said" "FIFA's director of communications Markus Ziegler and the president Sepp Blatter will say exactly what is to be done."

 Foe, 28, played 65 games for Cameroon and formerly played for West Ham United and RC Lens.

 The powerful midfielder missed the 1998 World Cup due to injury, but played in all three of Cameroon's games at last year's tournament, having done the same in 1994.

 He produced impressive form for Manchester City in the season just finished, but the club decided against paying Lyon seven million pounds ($11.65 million) to take him to England on a permanent basis.

 A minute's silence was observed before the other semi-final in Paris, which title holders France won 3-2.

 France's goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, a Lyon team mate of Foe, appeared distraught.

 FIFA said there would be no further statements until early Friday.

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