Czech international striker Josef Sural has been killed in a road accident, when a minibus carrying Turkish Super Lig club Aytemiz Alanyaspor crashed on Sunday evening.
The 28-year-old, who made 20 caps for the Czech Republic, was one of seven players to have rented a private minibus following Alanyaspor's 1-1 draw with Kayserispor yesterday, including Ex-Tottenham and QPR defender Steven Caulker and former Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse.
Both Caulker and Cisse were also injured in the crash but are believed to be in a stable condition.
Sulef was immediately rushed to hospital after the crash but tragically lost his life as a result of his injuries. The 28-year-old leaves behind a wife and two children.
It has been reported that the driver of the minibus had fallen asleep at the wheel; the club's chairman, Havan Cavusoglu, said:
"According to information I received from our police chief, despite there being two drivers on the vehicle, they were both asleep.
"The crash happened as a result of them both being asleep."
Alanyaspor's Twitter account last night posted: "We have learned with deep sorrow that Josef Sural lost his life as a result of an accident carrying seven football players from Alanyaspor."
Sural joined Alanyaspor from Sparta Prague in January and made nine appearances for the Super Lig outfit, scoring once.
His last international cap came in Czech Republic's Nations League defeat to Ukraine in October.
The Football Association of the Czech Republic said news of Sural's death brought "great sorrow", adding: "We will never forget you."
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, who made 124 caps for the Czech Republic, tweeted: "Sad news from this morning. Sincere condolences to the family and to all the loved ones. R.i.p"