Confed Cup final dedicated to Marc-Vivien Foe

AFP – 28 June 2009 20:55
The Confederations Cup final on Sunday was dedicated to Marc-Vivien Foe, seen here in 2002, the Cameroon international who died playing for his country in the 2003 edition in France.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The Confederations Cup final here on Sunday was dedicated to Marc-Vivien Foe, the Cameroon international who died playing for his country in the 2003 edition in France.

A tribute was read out before the kick-off between the United States and Brazil by his son, Marc Scott.

“Life’s not the same without dad,” said his son in a moving tribute in which he thanked FIFA for the support it has provided to his family since his father’s death.

Foe, the former Manchester City and Lyon player, collapsed in the centre circle during the Confed Cup semi-final six years ago in Lyon and died soon after arriving in hospital.

He was later found to have suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart-related disease. He was 28.

Foe was given a state funeral in Cameroon and he also has a memorial at Manchester City.

One of the legacies of Foe’s death has been an improvement in medical care for footballers.