A Northern Ireland fan has died in France after falling over a railing in an apparent accident hours after his team’s match against Poland.
Michael O’Neill’s side fell 1-0 to Poland in their first game at the European Championship in Nice, France on Sunday.
It is believed Darren Rodgers, who was 24 and from Ballymena, was on his own and fell about eight metres from a promenade onto a rocky beach.
The deceased, Rodgers, from the Meadowvale area of the County Antrim town, was a former pupil of Cambridge House Grammar School.
Superintendent Nigel Goddard, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), told the BBC the death was an accident and not related to disorder between fans in Nice.
“I was informed this morning by my French counterparts of this tragic news,” Nigel said on Monday.
“I believe it was an accident.”
Northern Ireland First Minister, Arlene Foster, attended Sunday’s game.
“The whole atmosphere was one of great excitement, great joy, all the Northern Ireland fans and Polish fans were having a tremendous experience, a tremendous time together,” she said.
“So it is tremendously sad news to hear this morning that a young fan has lost his life. I do, of course, want to express my deepest sympathy to the family back home in Northern Ireland
“It is news that will come to them as a terrible shock. A young man going out there to have the trip of a lifetime and to be told that this has happened, it just is really shocking.”
Euro 2016 has been marred by clashes in Marseille and other parts of France.
UEFA has started disciplinary proceedings against Russia’s football federation following three consecutive days of violence that culminated in chaotic scenes inside the Stade Velodrome stadium on Saturday.
