Saturday, Jun 28, 2003
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Football
Cameroonian midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe lies on the field during the Confederations Cup semifinal match against Colombia in Lyon. The 28-year-old, who was stretchered off the pitch in the 72nd minute, died even as his team entered the final. — AFP
While doctors fought in vain to save Foe's life, Cameroon held on to win 1-0 and advance to Sunday's final against France, which beat Turkey 3-2 in the other semifinal on Thursday in Saint-Denis. Blatter said he was convinced that Cameroon would show up for Sunday's final at Saint-Denis. "They will do it for the honour and the respect of their team-mate," Blatter said. "It is not the show that has to go on, it is the game that has to go on," Blatter said. "There is always a risk." "FIFA and the whole football family are shattered by this unbelievable tragedy," he said. "Football has lost a remarkable player and a remarkable man." The Cameroon team on Friday confirmed it would play the final. Even the French players were pondering whether it was appropriate to face Cameroon. "We should not play the final," said Monaco midfielder Ludovic Giuly. "We could do this for him. When I see how the players on our team who knew him were affected, I don't know where Cameroon could find the force to play the final. Foe, 28, collapsed 71 minutes into a game played in hot and muggy conditions in Lyon, where he had spent three years with Olympique Lyon of the French first division. He spent the last season on loan with Manchester City. With no one around him in the midfield circle, Foe sank to his knees and fell forward. Players from both teams immediately signalled for help. Medical staff gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and more oxygen. To no avail. "It is too early to determine the exact causes of his death," said FIFA's doctor at the scene, Alfred Mueller. Blatter said he had spoken with the doctor. "It was like a heart attack," Blatter told The Associated Press. Unaware that their team-mate was dying, Cameroon players ran a lap of honour and waved to the their cheering fans to celebrate the victory that took the African champion into the final. Minutes later, the fans and players were crying as the news of Foe's death spread. In Cameroon, fans preparing to celebrate the victory instead mourned Foe. "Foe's death is the most shocking experience I've had in my whole life as a coach and footballer," said Jean Paul Akono, a former national team coach. "Foe had been the most frank, most exemplary, respectful player I ever trained, and who had gone to the expected heights," said Akono, weeping. Foe's death completely overshadowed the semifinals of the tournament. He was believed to be the first player to die in a FIFA event of this stature. Even though the tournament has been criticised for a quick succession of games at the end of a long season, Foe had played only 153 minutes of a possible 270 during the group stage of the Confederations Cup and sat out Monday's game against the United States. Foe was playing in his 64th international for Cameroon, and was a typical player on the African champion's lineup with his measurements of 1.94 meters for 84 kilograms. Harry Redknapp, the former manager of West Ham, where Foe also played, said the Cameroon star appeared such a physically strong player.
In Saint-Denis, where the other semifinal was played between defending champion France and Turkey, the crowd of some 40,000 held a minute of silence for Foe before the kickoff. Some French players who had been team-mates of Foe had tears in their eyes. The Arsenal trio of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord scored the French goals. Turkey missed a late penalty that would have tied the game and will now play Colombia for third place Saturday in Saint-Etienne. Pius Ndiefi, used only once before in the tournament as a substitute, got Cameroon's goal in the 10th minute against Colombia and the Africans held on despite the expulsion of defender Bill Tchato 20 minutes from time. — AP
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