SOCCER/News: Former Manchester City and West Ham footballer Marc-Vivien Foe died yesterday while playing for his country.

The 28-year-old Cameroon midfielder collapsed in the second half of his side's 1-0 win over Colombia in the Confederations Cup semi-final match in Lyon.

In the 71st minute of the game, Foe, fell down unchallenged around the midfield circle. Emergency staff came on to the pitch to make sure the unconscious 28-year-old did not swallow his tongue.

Foe, who left Manchester City and returned to Lyon at the end of the season, was carried off on a stretcher to the touchline where he received further treatment, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and extra oxygen.

FIFA's medical officer Alfred Mueller said: "The French doctors tried to reanimate him for 45 minutes. During this time, we had unfortunately no reaction from the player."

Mueller said the cause of death was "not absolutely clear". He added: "It is a very tragic situation for international soccer, for FIFA, for the players, for the player's family and for Cameroon soccer."

The death totally overshadowed Cameroon's qualification for the final of the tournament.

Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager who signed Foe for West Ham for £4 million in January 1999, said last night that he had faxed an offer to the player yesterday, an offer he might have read last night.

"I can't quite believe it," Redknapp said. "He was a quiet man, a gentle giant."

A one minute's silence was held before hosts France contentiously went ahead with their Confederations Cup semi-final against Turkey in Paris later last night.

News of Foe's death was relayed to the players only minutes before they walked out for the pre-match formalities.

A spokesman for the French organising committee said: "It all happened much too late to do anything about the staging of the match."

 - Guardian Service