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England football fan dies in Bulgaria

Bulgaria fans display flags next to England flags before the match  - Action Images via Reuters
Bulgaria fans display flags next to England flags before the match - Action Images via Reuters

An England fan in Bulgaria for the Euro 2020 qualifier has died after being discovered in a "helpless" condition in Sofia. Local police told the Daily Telegraph that the 32-year-old died in hospital after being discovered at 10am on Monday in the city centre.

British counterparts are understood to be working with local officers to attempt to contact the man's family. The death was confirmed in the afternoon and is unrelated to an apparent attack by locals on an England supporter, who was left with a broken arm.

A spokeswoman for the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior said of the death: "The incident took place at 10am today. He is a British citizen, 32 years old, at 10am and he was taken to hospital but he has died and the police are now working to clarify all the circumstances."

The spokeswoman said she "cannot confirm"  local reports that the man may have taken drugs. "He was found at the centre of the city, in the street," she said. "He was found in a helpless condition."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was unable to verify the death, but confirmed another man had been injured in a separate incident.

“Our staff are supporting a British man following an incident in Sofia and are in contact with the Bulgarian Police," the FCO said.

The incident comes just days after England supporters clashed with police in Prague prior to Friday’s defeat by Czech Republic.