CALI (Colombia) – The defender of Nantes and the Colombian National Team, Mario Alberto Yepes spoke about the terrible moment during the match between Colombia and Cameroon in the Confederations Cup when Marc-Vivien Foé died. In addition, Gerardo Bedoya also spoke about what happened and the striker Matias Vuoso, team mate at Manchester City, said that he still couldn’t believe it.
« I was very near to where Foe was walking in the field when he suddenly fell down to the ground. »
What was the first thing you thought that was happening to him?
« It was very difficult because I saw that his eyes didn’t move but he was breathing. The only thing that came to my mind was to call for the doctors at once. »
When you saw that he was taken off the pitch in that condition, did you agree on keeping on playing?
« To say the truth I thought that he was going to stand up and return to the pitch but when we knew what had really happened, personally I felt like the worst person in the world. I couldn’t take his face out of my mind, this was something terrible that I hope never happens again. »
Had you ever seen something similar to this?
« No, the only thing that could be compared to this was what happened in Colombia to two players from Deportivo Cali who were killed by lightning. »
Did Foe say anything or ask for help in the minutes before he fell down?
« If he did, I didn’t realise it. Maybe he said something to his team mates but for the reaction they had I think he didn’t feel anything strange. It only happened to him suddenly so he didn’t have any chance to warn anyone. »
In addition, the defender of Racing Club, Gerardo Bedoya said:
« I didn’t understand anything when I saw Foe falling down because he was only walking. I really was impressed when I saw him and couldn’t get my mind back on the match. It was impossible to keep on playing seeing a player in those conditions, that was why I asked to be replaced some minutes after. »
Didn’t any player ask the referee to suspend the match?
« We thought about that but the thing was that nobody thought that he was going to die because while he was on the pitch he was breathing. »
In Buenos Aires, while he was enjoying his holidays, the striker Matias Vuoso, team mate of Foe at Manchester City said: « I was watching the match and couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I still can’t react to this tragical event. »
You knew Foe very well.
« Yes, he helped me alot when I arrived to Manchester City, he helped to get adapted and we were friends. »
What was he like?
« A very good person, always happy, one of the players with the best mood I have seen in my life. »
Was he a person who liked to have friends?
« We always sat together in the dressing room at Manchester City and he always asked me things about my family. I really can’t believe to be talking about him in this way. The worst thing of all is that he leaves a wife and three sons, the youngest one being only a month old. »
