Wales fan dies after assault at Wembley before England match

A Wales football fan died last night following an assault before England's Euro 2012 qualifying match against Wales.

The man, believed to be his 40s, suffered a heart attack at Wembley Stadium before being rushed to a hospital in north London suffering from head injuries.

Six people have been arrested in connection with the incident. The victim and all the suspects were thought to be Wales fans, police said.

The Metropolitan Police said they believed that they have identified the victim but are awaiting formal confirmation that all his next of kin have been informed.

A post on the forum of Cardiff City FC said the victim was a fan of the club and that tribute would be paid to him at Saturday's match against Doncaster. Police and ambulances were called to an area outside Wembley Stadium at 7.20pm after reports of an assault.

A London Ambulance Service (LAS) spokesman said: "Staff treated a 44-year-old man who had suffered a cardiac arrest. Extensive efforts were made to resuscitate the patient and he was taken to hospital." Staff on standby at the international match were on the scene within three minutes, the spokesman said.

The victim was taken to a north London hospital in an ambulance belonging to a private medical contractor employed by Wembley, but was pronounced dead at 8.50pm.

Outside the turnstiles for away supporters, a small pool of blood on the tarmac last night marked the spot where the fan fell. Gravel had been laid to cover more evidence of the tragedy.

Officers from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command are now investigating his death, and police said that a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

Joe Ledley, who played for Wales in their 1-0 loss to England, took to Twitter to express his sadness over the death: "I can't believe a Welsh fan has been murdered tonight shocking."