Even as the officials of Dempo Sports Club and the Karnataka State Football Association traded charges, the Bangalore police today said Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior had died following cardiac arrest.‘‘He died of cardiac arrest.he died on the spot’’, Bangalore Police Commissioner S Mariswamy said today, quoting the post-mortem report.The Dempo striker had collapsed after slotting his second goal against mohun bagan in the Federation cup football championship final at Sree Kanteerava Stadium yesterday.As the ball went past him, Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Paul, rushing out, appeared to catch Junior with an oustretched hand. However, Mariswamy discounted the possibility of Paul’s blow being instrumental in Junior’s death. ‘‘There is no evidence to suggest that’’, he said.In New Delhi, Brazilian Ambassador Jose Vicente Pimentel said Dempo would be taking care of the entire package of transporting the body back to Brazil directly. ‘‘We are in touch with his wife and the AIFF’’, Pimente said, thanking the federation for its assistance since the tragedy took place.Even as the football fraternity tried to come to terms with the disaster, Dempo officials lodged a police complaint against the KSFA for ‘‘negligence’’ in extending timely treatment to Junior.The complaint, lodged by Dempo’s coach Armando Colaco, said had Junior been taken to nearby Mallya Hospital rather than Hosmat, which was two kms away from the stadium, his life could have been saved.Police said they have filed a case under Section 304 (A) of IPC relating to negligence against the KSFA.However, KSFA officials rejected the charge of medical negligence as ‘‘totally baseless’’, saying that two doctors were on duty at the ground.KSFA president A R Khaleel said that a professional team like Dempo should have had their own team doctor and lashed out at the Goan outfit for trying to throw the blame on the organisers.An ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh would be given to Junior’s family by the KSFA and Karnataka government.
