From correspondents in Europe, 07:01 PM IST

Zagreb: Croatian first division football player Hrvoje Custic died after hitting his head on a concrete wall alongside the pitch during a match last week, a doctor has said. 'He's been pronounced brain dead this morning, meaning he died due to the heavy damage to the brain,' said doctor Edi Karuc.

Custic (25) was hurt at the very beginning of a first division match his team Zadar played against Cibalija Saturday. According to the unofficial information, he has been in coma ever since and his condition worsened Wednesday night. Custic's colleagues were hit hard by the news of his death. Football referee Reno Sinovcic was seen crying. 'It hard on all of us. My friend, my colleague and most of all a great man is gone,' said Zadar captain Jakov Surac.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)