The Czech Republic international Josef Sural has died after a minibus carrying seven members of the Turkish club Aytemiz Alanyaspor’s squad, including the former England defender Steven Caulker and former Newcastle forward Papiss Cissé, crashed on Sunday.

Sural died at a hospital where he and six of his teammates had been taken after the private bus, hired by the players after the 1-1 draw at Kayserispor, veered off the road and down a bank. The club’s chairman, Hasan Cavusoglu, has claimed the driver of the minibus had fallen asleep at the wheel, with a second on-board driver also reportedly resting when the accident occurred.

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The players involved are understood to have decided to travel back to Alanya by road after being informed the squad’s flight from Kayseri would be delayed by up to eight hours, prompting some of their teammates to opt to stay overnight. The 350-mile journey by minibus should take around seven hours. The bus was apparently around three miles from Alanya when it came off the road. It is believed the sliding side door opened, with Sural thrown from the vehicle.

The 28-year-old was initially treated at the scene, with teammates having attempted to revive him before paramedics arrived. He leaves a wife and two young daughters, one born only in February.

“Josef Sural was gravely injured when a private minibus carrying seven of our players was involved in an accident coming back from the away game in Kayseri,�? the club said in a statement on social media. “Despite the best efforts of those at the Alanya Anadolu private hospital, Sural couldn’t be saved. May he rest in peace.�?

Djalma Campos, Baiano, Welinton and Isaac Sackey were the other players involved, with Sackey, a Ghana international, suffering a broken arm. The Turkish state-run news agencyAnadolu reported that the driver of the bus had been detained by police following the accident. “According to information I received from our police chief, despite there being two drivers on the vehicle, they were both asleep,�? Cavusoglu was quoted as saying. “The crash happened as a result of them both being asleep.�?

Sural, like Caulker and Cissé, had moved to Alanyaspor this year. He left Sparta Prague in January and earned the last of 20 caps last October. “I want to express my sincere and deep condolences to Pepa’s family and friends,�? said Martin Malik, chairman of the Football Association of the Czech Republic. “He was a humble man who will be missed by all of us. We will never forget him.�?

Caulker, who had scored his team’s equaliser earlier in the day, and Cissé joined the club president in spending time with Sural’s family on Monday. “It’s like a bad joke, I still can’t believe it,�? said their teammate Haydar Yilmaz. “I wish there was something we could do. The situation with our injured friends is good, but they are psychologically very bad.�?</s>Czech international footballer Josef Sural, playing for Turkey's top tier Aytemiz Alanyaspor, has been killed after a minibus carrying players from the club crashed while returning from an away match, the club said on Monday.

Sural, a striker for Alanyaspor and the Czech national team, died at the hospital where he and six of his teammates were taken after the crash, the club said on Twitter.

Seven Alanyaspor players had rented a VIP minibus to return from the club's 1-1 draw against Kayserispor on Sunday and the bus crashed some five kilometres (3.1 miles) from the southern coastal town of Alanya, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said.

The rest of the club's players and staff had returned with the team bus or on their own, Anadolu said, adding that the driver of the VIP bus had been detained following the accident and an investigation had been launched.

Club Chairman Hasan Cavusoglu was quoted as saying the driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel of the minibus. A second driver was asleep at the time.</s>Czech Republic international Josef Šural has died after a minibus carrying players from his club side, Aytemiz Alanyaspor, crashed while returning from an away match.

Šural, a 28-year-old striker, died at the hospital where he and six of his teammates, including one-cap England international Steven Caulker and Papiss Cisse, were taken after the crash, the club said on Twitter.



Šural, who won 20 caps for his country and scored once, was rushed to a nearby hospital and immediately taken for an operation, but could not be saved by doctors.

Šural had been an unused substitute during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Kayserispor, in which Caulker had scored for the away side.

Caulker joined the club in January after a spell with Dundee. Former Newcastle striker Cisse had also played in the fixture.

The VIP minibus, rented by the seven players, departed from Kayseri after a match on Sunday and went off the road approximately 5km from the Mediterranean city Alanya.

The rest of the club's players and staff had returned with the team bus or on their own.

The bus had two drivers and both fell asleep, according to Alanyaspor's chairman Hasan Çavuşoğlu, quoting police sources and as reported in Turkey.

“According to information I received from our police chief, despite there being two drivers on the vehicle, they were both asleep," Çavuşoğlu said, according to Anadolu. "The crash happened as a result of them both being asleep.”

According to Anadolu, the drivers have been detained following the accident and an investigation had been launched.

It's reported locally that both Caulker and Cisse picked up minor injuries.

Šural, a father of two, moved to Turkey from his homeland in January, signing from Sparta Prague for a nominal fee.

He had also previously played for both Slovan Liberec and FC Brno.

Turkey's Football federation (TFF) released a statement on Monday morning declaring: "We have learned with great sadness that Josef Sural, who was seriously injured as a result of an accident in a private minibus carrying Aytemiz Alanyasporlu football players, died in the hospital where he was treated, and six players were injured.</s>Czech Republic striker Josef Šural has been killed following a crash involving a minibus that was transporting several Alanyaspor players

Seven members of the team were travelling home in the rented vehicle after a 1-1 draw in their Turkish Süper Lig fixture away to Kayserispor, with former Premier League players Papiss Demba Cisse and Steven Caulker also on board. Šural was rushed to hospital in the aftermath of the incident, but unfortunately doctors could not save him. The other six individuals remain in care, whilst the minibus driver has been detained as a police investigation begins.

Šural had only joined the club earlier this calendar year, switching to the Bahçeşehir School Arena from Sparta Prague. The 28-year-old had amassed 20 appearances for his national side, scoring his only goal against the Netherlands in Euro 2016 qualifying.

Anadolu say the accident took place approximately 5km from the town of Alanya on the south coast where the team are based. The rest of the squad and coaching staff returned from the away match via the team bus or on their own.

Hasan Çavuşoğlu told reporters the following: " 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."

Tributes have been payed to Šural from across the footballing community, with countless clubs, players and fans offering their condolences to the forward's friends and family.

The six squad members who are still being treated in hospital are expected to make a full recovery, with none currently in a critical condition.</s>Ankara: Czech international Josef Sural has died of injuries sustained in a minibus crash while returning with teammates from a match in southern Turkey, his Turkish club Aytemiz Alanyaspor said on Monday.

The club's chairman said the accident occurred after both the drivers on the bus fell asleep.

"Czech player Josef Sural who was seriously injured after an accident involving a private minibus carrying seven of our footballers after an away game at Kayseri could not be saved despite all of the hospital's efforts," the club said on Twitter.

The six other players were injured but not seriously in the crash, close to the southern town of Alanya, state news agency Anadolu said.

Among them was Stephen Caulker, a former Tottenham Hotspur defender who was capped for England in 2012 and Senegal international and former Newcastle United player Papisse Cisse, local media reported.

"Sad news this morning. Sincere condolences to the family and to all loved ones. R.I.P," Arsenal goalkeeper and fellow Czech international Petr Cech wrote on Twitter in Czech.

One of the drivers has been taken into custody and Turkish authorities launched an investigation into the accident, Anadolu reported.

"Unfortunately despite having two drivers, they fell asleep and the crash happened," Alanyaspor chairman Hasan Cavusoglu said.

Sural, an attacking midfielder who was 28, had also played for Czech sides FC Brno, Slovan Liberec and Sparta Prague. He was capped 20 times for his country and was a key player in their Euro 2016 campaign.

Alanyaspor, currently fifth in the Turkish Super Lig, drew 1-1 with Kayserispor on Sunday.

Your guide to the latest election news, analysis, commentary, live updates and schedule for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on firstpost.com/elections. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or like our Facebook page for updates from all 543 constituencies for the upcoming general elections.</s>The 28-year-old Alanyaspor forward was traveling in a private minibus with six of his team-mates following Sunday's 1-1 Turkish Super Lig draw at Kayserispor.

According to a report by Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu, the bus overturned five kilometers from the southern coastal town of Alanya.

Sural's fellow players – including Papiss Cisse and Steven Caulker – were treated as outpatients for minor injuries.

A statement tweeted from Alanyaspor's official account read: "Despite all efforts by the doctors of Alanya Private Anatolian Hospital, our Czech footballer Josef Sural has passed away after the VIP van that was carrying seven of our players crashed."

Sural was capped 20 times by the Czech Republic and scored his only international goal in a crucial 3-2 Euro 2016 qualifying win over Netherlands in October 2015.

The former Slovan Liberec, Sparta Prague and Zbrojovka Brno player featured in all three of his country's matches at the finals in France the following year.</s>Alanyaspor players paid their respects to Josef Sural on Monday after the Czech Republic striker was killed in a minibus crash.

Sural's former colleagues were visibly moved by the ceremony in Antalya in Turkey.

A board in tribute to Sural, who was 28-year-old, read 'we will never forget you'.



Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu placed carnations on the coffin of the player.

Cavusoglu also gave his condolences to head coach of Aytemiz Alanyaspor Sergen Yalcin.

The Turkish Foreign Minister also shook hands with the players at the club facility in Turkey.

Sural, who played in Turkey, was killed after two bus drivers allegedly fell asleep while taking Aytemiz Alanyaspor players home from an away match on Sunday.

The devastated wife of Sural, Denisa and their daughters Vanessa and Melissa Denise boarded a plane to leave Turkey after the emotional ceremony.

Tributes were also paid in the Czech Republic as candles were placed near the Sparta Stadium in Prague.

Fans also held up a banner ahead of the Turkish Super Lig match between Atiker Konyaspor and Galatasaray at Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium in Konya.

At the same game, players held a banner on the pitch which read 'Sorry For Our Loss'.

Wife Denisa arrived at a Turkish hospital earlier on Monday after the striker was killed in the crash.

Denisa Sural pushed a pram into the hospital in Antalya as she took a grim journey to the scene where her husband died.

The crash also injured former England international Steven Caulker and ex-Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse, with four further players taken to hospital.

Alanyaspor chairman Hasan Cavusoglu has claimed that the driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel while a second driver was already napping.

A ceremony will be held by the club for the player on Monday evening.

Seven Alanyaspor players had rented a VIP minibus to return home after the club's 1-1 draw against Kayserispor on Sunday.

The bus crashed three miles from the southern coastal town of Alanya, killing Sural and wounding Cisse and Caulker.

Djalma Campos, Baiano, Welinton and Isaac Sackey were the other four players caught up in the accident. Sackey suffered a broken arm.

A representative of Caulker told The Mirror the former Tottenham and Liverpool defender was 'safe, but badly shaken up'.

The rest of the club's players and staff had returned with the team bus or on their own, a Turkish agency said.

The driver of the VIP bus has reportedly been detained following the accident and an investigation has been launched.

'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,' Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Cavusoglu as saying.

He said the other six players injured in the crash were not in critical condition.

On Monday morning, Alanyaspor head coach Sergen Yalcin spoke about the accident.

'Everything is empty, life is empty. We're hurt,' he said. 'He was the team's most industrious footballer, a very disciplined and exemplary person.'

Speaking on TV channel TRT Spor, Sural's team-mate Haydar Yilmaz said: 'It's like a joke, I still can't believe it.

'I wish there was something we could do. I don't know what to do. The situation of our wounded friends is good, but they are psychologically very bad.'

Sural is survived by his wife and two daughters. His second child was born on February 7.

The Czech Republic Football Association released a statement on Monday morning following the news, with both the chairman and national team coach speaking.

'I want to express my sincere and deep condolences to the family and my friends. Pepa was a humble man who will all be missed by us. We will never forget,' said chairman Martin Malik.

National team head coach Jaroslav Silhavy said: 'I knew Pepa from his time in Liberec. He was a modest and honest boy, with only the nicest memories left.

'The message hit me deeply. It is a loss not only for Czech football, but especially for all those close to him - it is for those who I want to express my sincere condolences to the family.'

Sural's old club Sparta Prague were among the first to pay tribute to their former captain following news of his death.

The Czech outfit wrote on Twitter: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of our friend and former captain.

'We would like to express our condolences to his family. Sury, we will never forget you. Rest in peace!'

Slovan Liberec, another of Sural's former teams, expressed their sadness at the news, confirming that their will be a minute's silence before their league match against Slavia Prague on Saturday.

'We express our sincere condolences to the whole family and to the bereaved. Rest in peace, Pepa!' said a statement on the club's official website.

Team-mate Caulker, who had scored his first goal for the club on Sunday in their 1-1 draw with Kayserispor, posted messages on his Instagram.

Arsenal goalkeeper and former international team-mate Petr Cech also posted his condolences.

He tweeted in Czech, writing: 'Sad news from this morning. Sincere condolences to the family and to all the loved ones. R.i.p.'

Everton's Turkish forward Cenk Tosun also posted following the news.

Former France international and Sparta Prague team-mate Rio Mavuba posted: 'Beyond football a good man. We all think of you Josef and your family.'

Other clubs were also quick to pay their respects, with Ajax and Barcelona both posting on Twitter in reaction to the news. Each of Turkey's big three clubs — Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas — all posted their condolences, too.

Tributes are set to be paid ahead of the two Turkish Super Lig fixtures on Monday evening. Galatasaray's game with Konyaspor and Yeni Malatyaspor against Kasimpasa both kick off at 6pm.

Sural started his career at FC Zbrojovka Brno having come through their academy. He made 37 appearances for the club before moving to Slovan Liberec in 2011, where he won the Czech First Division title.

He made the move to Sparta Prague in 2016, where he was captain until his move to Turkey in January.

Sural was capped 20 times for his country, scoring his only goal in a 3-2 win against Holland in October 2015. He was part of the squad that participated at Euro 2016.</s>Papiss Cisse has escaped serious injury after a minibus he was travelling in with his Alanyaspor teammates crashed and killed Czech international Josef Sural.

The former Newcastle United striker suffered 'minor injuries' according to reports in Turkey but his 28-year-old teammate Sural later died in hospital.

According to reports, the minibus was carrying seven players back from the 1-1 draw with Kayserispor - as well as Cisse and Sural, former Cardiff City defender Steven Caulker was also said to be on board.

The defender scored his side's only goal in the game.

Turkey's Football federation (TFF) released a statement on Monday morning declaring: "We have learned with great sadness that Josef Sural, who was seriously injured as a result of an accident in a private minibus carrying Aytemiz Alanyasporlu football players, died in the hospital where he was treated, and six players were injured.

"We would like to express our deepest condolences and appreciation to all lovers of the Alanyaspor community."</s>Czech international footballer Josef Sural was killed and six team-mates were injured early Monday when their minivan crashed on the way home from a Turkish league match.

The 28-year-old striker, who played for Turkish club Alanyaspor and was the father of two young girls, died in hospital during emergency surgery.

Seven Alanyaspor players had rented the minivan to return from the club's 1-1 draw against Kayserispor on Sunday and the bus crashed 5 km from the southern coastal town of Alanya.

The rest of the club's players and staff had returned with the team bus or on their own, Turkey news agency Anadolu reported, adding that the driver of the minivan had been detained following the accident and an investigation has been launched.

"Seven of our footballers had rented a private vehicle," he told reporters. "Unfortunately, at the entrance to town, despite the fact that there were two drivers in the vehicle, the accident occurred as a result of both of them sleeping."

State-run Anadolu Agency identified the injured players as Wanderson Baiano, Steven Caulker, Isaac Sackey, Papiss Demba Cisse, Welinton Souza and Djalma Campos.

The Turkish football federation said a minute's silence would be observed for Sural at the start of this week's league games.

Alanyaspor said on Twitter that a special ceremony would be held later on Monday, attended by Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

Sural, who previously played for AC Sparta Praha and Slovan Liberec, earned at least 20 international caps playing for his country</s>Czech Republic international Josef Sural died after Alanyaspor’s team minibus crashed while travelling back from a fixture against Kayserispor on Sunday.

According to The Sun, the 28-year-old died after being taken to hospital in critical condition following the road accident, while former Tottenham defender Steven Caulker also sustained injuries.

Sural sustained fractures to his head and some parts of his body and was immediately taken to intensive care, but he was pronounced dead after doctors attempted to save his life. The Czech striker is survived by his wife and two children.

The Sun reports that six other members of the Alanyaspor squad were taken to hospital after the horrific crash, including ex-Liverpool and Sunderland forward Djibril Cisse.

The tragic incident took place last night as the Turkish side were travelling home in a private VIP minibus following a 1-1 draw with Kayserispor – during which Caulker scored the only goal for the visitors.

As per The Sun, Alanyaspor chairman Hasan Cavusoglu claimed the minibus driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, as he stated: “According to the 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.”

The players were travelling from Alanya back to the city when the bus crashed and overturned in Antalya-Alanya land road, five kilometres before the Dinek centre.

Sural played 20 times for the Czech Republic – including all three of their group games at Euro 2016 – and he was plying his trade at club level in Turkey after joining Alanyaspor from Sparta Prague in January.

The driver of the van has reportedly been questioned by police and the six injured Alanyaspor players are now in a stable condition.
A minibus carrying Turkish Süper Lig Alanyaspor football players crashes near Alanya, Turkey, resulting in the death of Czech Republic national football team international Josef Šural, while several other players are seriously injured.