Family
Robert Rainey, known as Archie, is understood to have suffered a heart attack
A Northern Ireland supporter has died at the Stade de Lyon as he watched the team beat Ukraine at the Euro 2016 tournament in France.
Robert Rainey, known as Archie, is understood to have suffered a heart attack in one of the stands at about 18:00 local time.
Medics tried to resuscitate the 62-year-old Belfast man inside the stadium but he was later pronounced dead.
His family said he died “doing what he loved best”.
In a statement released through the PSNI, the family said: “Our father Robert Rainey, known to everyone as Archie, has sadly passed away whilst in France supporting Northern Ireland at the Euros surrounded by all his friends and family.
“We are obviously devastated at this loss, and thankful for everyone’s thoughts and prayers, we would appreciate privacy at this sensitive time.”
Mr Rainey is the second Northern Ireland fan to die in France this week.
Tribute
Early on Monday morning, 24-year-old Darren Rodgers, from Ballymena in County Antrim, died after a fall from a promenade in Nice.
The incident happened just hours after Northern Ireland’s opening game of the tournament against Poland.
Northern Ireland’s players wore black armbands during the win over Ukraine in Lyon in memory of Mr Rodgers.
There was also a minute’s applause by supporters inside the ground in the 24th minute of the game as a tribute to him.
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Reuters
After the latest death, Supt Nigel Goddard, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: “Our thoughts are tragically with a second family this week mourning the devastating loss of their loved one.
“We have been liaising with French authorities and local PSNI officers have been in touch with the man’s family in Belfast.”
Patrick Nelson, the chief executive of the Irish Football Association, said the man’s death during the game “puts any result of a football match into perspective”.
“The thoughts of the board, management, players and staff are with his family and friends at this sad time,” he added.
Support
John Delaney, the chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, said the man’s death was “a sad outcome to what was a historic day for Northern Irish football”.
He added: “We also remember the friends and family of Darren Rodgers, and we would also like to remember Republic of Ireland supporter James Nolan, who died four years ago in Poland, during Euro 2012.”
Irish FA statement on the sudden death of a fan at Stade de Lyon The Irish Football Association is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden death of a Northern Ireland fan at this evening’s game at Stade de Lyon.
Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson said: “This puts any result of a football match into perspective. The thoughts of the board, management, players and staff are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are working with the local authorities following the death of British national in France on 16 June and providing support to the family at this very sad time.”
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