Stade Reims have confirmed the death of club doctor Bernard Gonzalez, aged 60.
Gonzalez took his own life after testing positive for coronavirus, leaving a 'detailed letter' explaining the link between his actions and the diagnosis, report Le Parisien.
Gonzalez had been club doctor with the Ligue 1 side for 20 years.
Mayor of Reims, Arnaud Robinet, said: "He was the club doctor. A great professional, recognized and appreciated by all. My thoughts are for his parents, for his wife, his family.
"He is a collateral victim of Covid-19. I know he left a note to explain his gesture. But I ignore its content."
It is reported Gonzalez's wife had also tested positive for the virus, and the two were living together in confinement.
Jean-Pierre Caillot, Stade Reims president, said: "Words fail me, I am stunned by this news.
"This pandemic affects Stade de Reims in the heart, it is a personality of Reims and a great professional of the sport who left us.
"His mission to the club of more than 20 years has been carried out with the utmost professionalism, in a passionate and even selfless manner.
"Doctor Gonzalez, in the harshest periods of the club, thus worked on a voluntary basis.
"He is my personal doctor, and today all my thoughts, those of the club of which he will remain a strong figure, go to his wife and his parents. Today it is a drama that strikes us."
Reims' Twitter account posted a poignant tribute on Sunday evening, which read: "Doctor. Artist. Stadist. Dr Gonzalez."
Manager David Guion told L'Equipe: "My president has just informed me. It's very difficult to talk about it. We're in shock.
"He left a letter explaining his gesture. I do not know more. I can't afford to talk about it any more."
