The family of a football fan who died in Bulgaria before England’s Euro 2020 clash today demanded answers over his unexplained death.
Robert Spray, 32, was found in a “helpless condition” in a park in Sofia at about 10am on Monday.
He died while being transferred to police custody from hospital after acting “aggressively” towards medical staff, according to local reports.
Mr Spray was among 3,200 fans who travelled to the capital for the qualifier, won 6-0 by the Three Lions in a match marred by racist chants and Nazi salutes from the home crowd.
Friends and family of the West Bromwich Albion fan, from Staffordshire, have been left “absolutely broken” by his death.
Well-wishers donating to a GoFundMe page to repatriate his body had raised more than £8,000 within hours.
Mr Spray’s sister, Katie Brown, said: “We need to get my brother home, could you please help my absolutely broken family get their son back and my brother back home.”
She added: “We don’t know what’s happened but he died in police custody in suspicious circumstances.”
Bulgarian authorities said the man had been acting “aggressively, raging and threatening” before his death.
A Ministry of Interior spokeswoman said: “Police are working to clarify all the circumstances in the incident. There will be a forensic examination to find out what the cause of death was.”
Roger Wootton, who set up the fundraiser for his friend, said: “He didn’t have a bad bone in his body. We’re all grieving, and just couldn’t believe the news. It just hurts, it’s hurting us all.”
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman confirmed it was supporting the family.
Bulgaria’s police have arrested four people in connection with the racist abuse faced by England’s black players during the match. More arrests were expected today.
