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/ 30 December 2007
Phil O’Donnell, captain of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell, died on Saturday after collapsing during a match. The 35-year-old midfielder fell to the ground at Fir Park just as he was about to be substituted against Dundee United. The player was carried from the field on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
Slavia Prague reached the Champions League group stages for the first time on Wednesday after a 3-1 aggregate victory knocked out Ajax Amsterdam. Belgian titleholders Anderlecht also succumbed in the third qualifying round, losing 2-0 at home to Fenerbahce amid violent crowd scenes.
Five-time European champions Liverpool beat Toulouse 4-0 to complete their qualification for the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday. The Reds will be joined in Thursday’s draw for the lucrative group stage by Lazio and Rangers. Lazio won 3-1 at Dinamo Bucharest to round off a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Sevilla’s Spanish international defender Antonio Puerta died on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack during a Spanish league match on Saturday, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) told Agence France-Presse. ”It’s official. Puerta has died,” an RFEF spokesperson said.