08 March 2024

Rangers fan dies in Lisbon after Europa League tie

08 March 2024

A Rangers fan has died in Lisbon following the club’s European match.

Thomas McAllister was in Portugal for the Glasgow club’s Europa League tie with Benfica on Thursday night, but later died.

Rangers issued a statement on Friday pledging to maintain “constant contact with both the Portuguese and British authorities over this tragic incident”, and offering condolences to the family and friends of Mr McAllister, who was believed to be aged in his mid-20s.

The game ended 2-2 at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

Nobody should ever go to a football match and not return home

Rangers chief executive James Bisgrove said: “On behalf of the club, I want to pass on my sincere condolences to Thomas’s loved ones, family and his friends.

“This news has hit everyone at the club extremely hard, as I am sure it will all of our supporters.

“Nobody should ever go to a football match and not return home.

“The club stands ready to assist Thomas’s family in whichever way we can in the coming days and weeks.”

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to the family of a British man who has died in Lisbon, and are in contact with Portuguese authorities.”

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