Czech Republic forward Sural dies in minibus crash

Czech Republic international Josef Sural has died aged 28 following a minibus crash involving a number of his team-mates from Turkish side Aytemiz Alanyaspor.

The forward and six of his team-mates from the Turkish top-flight club were travelling in a private minibus following Sunday’s 1-1 draw in Kayserispor when the accident occurred.

The Football Association of the Czech Republic confirmed that Sural, who earned the last of his 20 caps for his country in the Nations League defeat to Ukraine in October last year, had died.

The governing body said on Twitter: “The Football Association of the Czech Republic has accepted with great grief the news that the representative striker Josef Sural died tragically in Turkey. We’ll never forget you, Pepo!”

No other fatalities have been announced by Aytemiz.

Former Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, capped once by England, and ex-Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse represent Alanyaspor, though it is unknown if they were among the passengers.

Sural, who joined Alanyaspor from Slavia Prague in January, was an unused substitute for the stalemate at Kayserispor.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech was among the first to offer his condolences, writing on Twitter of his former international team-mate: “Sad news from this morning. Sincere condolences to the family and to all the loved ones. R.i.p.”