Indian player dies after collapsing on pitch

By Amlan Chakraborty

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - An Indian player died after collapsing on the pitch during a district-level league match, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Tuesday.

Local media reported 27-year-old Bangalore Mars striker D Venkatesh collapsed following a cardiac arrest at the Bangalore Football Stadium.

With no ambulance around, his Bangalore Mars team mates hired a tuk-tuk (an auto-rickshaw) to take him to a local hospital where Venkatesh was declared dead, one report said.

"Venkatesh came on as a substitute in the second half for his club against South Western Railway in a Bangalore District Football Association 'A' Division match and collapsed during the fag end of the match," the AIFF said on its website (www.the-aiff.com)."

Federation officials, however, were not available for further details.

The death coincides with the English Premier League's decision to review its medical procedures following Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest while playing against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Muamba is recovering in hospital.

It was in the south Indian city of Bangalore that top Indian club Dempo's Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior died after colliding with Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Paul in the final of the 2004 Federation Cup.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Edited by Alison Wildey)