Greek police say there is no evidence that criminal activity caused the death of the former Sheffield United defender George Baldock.
The death of the 31-year-old Greece international, who signed for the Athens club Panathinaikos in the summer, was confirmed in a family statement on Wednesday. According to police sources, his body was found in a swimming pool at his home in Glyfada, southern Athens.
A statement from Greece’s ministry of citizen protection released on Thursday read: “A preliminary investigation has been carried out by the Attica Security Directorate. A forensic pathologist was called to the scene and examined the body with no evidence of criminal activity.
“In addition, the police searched the house to determine if there are any traces of a burglary, with a negative result. Also, a specialised team of the criminal investigation directorate of the police carried out a check at the house in order to exclude the possibility of criminal activity.”
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The Football Association said there would be a period of silence before Thursday night’s Nations League match between England and Greece at Wembley, and that players of both sides would wear black armbands.
The FA confirmed tributes would also be paid pre-match to the Kick It Out founder, Lord Herman Ouseley, who died last week aged 79.
Uefa said there would be a minute’s silence before Greece’s match at home to the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. Baldock’s family said in a statement they were “in shock at this terrible loss” and called for the media to respect their privacy.
