FRANCE: FIFA OFFICIALS EXPRESS THEIR SHOCK AND SADNESS AT THE DEATH OF CAMEROON MIDFIELDER MARC-VIVIAN FOE

Record ID: 648426

  • Title: FRANCE: FIFA OFFICIALS EXPRESS THEIR SHOCK AND SADNESS AT THE DEATH OF CAMEROON MIDFIELDER MARC-VIVIAN FOE
  • Date: 27th June 2003
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 27, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF LEQUIPE NEWSPAPER HEADLINES READING "Thinking of him"/CLOSE UP FOE ON FRONT PAGE/HEADLINES READING "A lion is dead" 2. WIDE SHOT OF PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM 3. FIFA OFFICIALS AND JOURNALISTS AT PRESS CONFERENCE (VARIOUS) 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHUCK BLAZER, FIFA OFFICIAL FROM USA SAYING : This is something still, for all of us involved, hard to digest, insofar as the approach in a sporting event like this championship can be a wonderful celebration of sport and good will, and to experience the reality and the mortality and the fragility of life in its most vivid and impactful way, as we did yesterday, is a shock to us all. 5. JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES 6. FIFA TROPHEE ON CONFERENCE TABLE 7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CLAUDE SIMONET, PRESIDENT OF FRENCH FOOTBALL FEDERATION SAYING: "He is one of us and when one of us is passing away it saddens us. I think that it humbles us, shows us that the life of men is hard but I send my deepest condolences to his wife, his children and his family. I believe however that the greatest tribute we can pay him, along with the Cameroon team, is to honour football as a whole, Cameroon football, so that this competition which brings together men from all four corners of the world shows its dignity but also shows us that life goes on. I thank you." 8. OFFICIALS LEAVING CONFERENCE 9. WIDE SHOTS OF GARE DE LYON STATION 10. TGV TRAIN ARRIVING AT STATION 11. FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER AND FIFA OFFICIALS ARRIVING 12. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "It was very moving. I think it was also very well received. First of all, we went by bus to the training camp of the footballers, near St. Etienne, where I talked to the managers. Then we went and talked to the players and I gave them not only FIFA's condolences and sympathy but also the message of hope. Because football is hope - and in memory of the player Marc- Vivien Foe they're (Cameroon) going to play this Final and they're going to play it with a lot of conviction and they are going to wear their shirts with the name Foé written on them. I think that that's a very good idea." 13. PEOPLE BOARDING TRAIN AND PLAYERS DESCENDING FROM TRAIN (VARIOUS) 14. CAMEROON PLAYER GETTING ON TEAM BUS 15. CAMEROON SUPPORTERS HOLDING NATIONAL FLAG (VARIOUS) 16. SECURITY GATES CLOSING 17. SUPPORTER WAVING NATIONAL FLAG 18. TEAM BUS LEAVING 19. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CAMEROON FAN SAYING: I dare to hope that we are going to play and bring back this cup in the memory of Marc-Vivien Foe. We've got the morale and we've won many cups. I dare to hope that Marc-Vivien died on the battle field, as we say at home with weapons at the ready -- rest in peace, my man. We all love you. A lion died on the battle field." 20. SUPPORTER WALKING AWAY Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVABXJHP13CLZV3K28UP7ZDVZDQL
  • Story Text: FIFA officials expressed their shock and sadness at
    the death of Marc-Vivien Foe and said the Confederation Cup
    tournament will continue with Cameroon playing France in
    Sunday's (June 29) final.

    Foe collapsed and died in the semi-final against
    Colombia on Thursday (June 26), won 1-0 by Cameroon.

    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 through injury, but
    played in all three of Cameroons games in last years 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.

    Chuck Blazer, chairman of the Confederations Cup organising
    committee, stressed that Foe's death was a real shock for
    everyone and hard to digest.

    Claude Simonet, President of the French Football Federation
    paid a warm tribute to Foe and said: "his passing away saddens
    us. I think that it humbles us, shows us that the life of men
    is hard but I send my deepest condolences to his wife, his
    children and his family.

    An autopsy on Foe has shown nothing abnormal but he did
    not die of a stroke.

    First analysis showed nothing abnormal but we rule out any
    stroke. Toxicological tests, which will take longer, will be
    carried out, said Xavier Richaud, public prosecutor for the
    Lyon region.

    Stunned Cameroon players arrived at Lyon station on Friday
    (June 27) to train ahead of the Confederations Cup final
    against France despite the death of their comrad Marc-Vivien Foe.

    The Cameroon players have decided to dedicate the
    Confederations Cup final to their teammate.

    All the players will wear Foe's name on their jersey during the final.

    FIFA president Sepp Blatter who travelled from Lyon to
    Paris with the Cameroonian team said upon arrival that he gave the
    Cameroon team a message of hope.



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