07 December 2004	Tuesday	24 Shawwal 1425

NEW DELHI, Dec 6: Indian soccer officials will launch an inquiry into the death of a Brazilian-born player during the final of a local tournament on Sunday. Dempo SC striker Cristiano Junior, 24, appeared to clash with Mohun Bagan's goalkeeper while scoring and staggered away and collapsed during the final of the Federation Cup, a top inter-club event played in the southern city of Bangalore.

An unconscious Junior, who scored the goals in his team's 2-0 victory, was taken to hospital but was declared dead by the doctors. "We'll definitely have an inquiry," All India Football Federation secretary Albert Colaco said on Monday.

"We're collecting all documents, including the post mortem report. We've already informed the Asian federation," he said. Junior was the top scorer in the Indian league last season, when he helped Calcutta's popular East Bengal club claim their third title. He then switched to Dempo.

Colaco said the player's body would be taken to the club's base in the western Goa state and be flown to Brazil. Dempo club officials have lodged a police complaint against the local organisers, alledging delay in getting the player to hospital. His tearful team mates and hundreds of fans bade farewell as the player's body was taken from Bangalore to Goa on Monday. -Reuters