Man charged over death of Wales fan

Michael Dye, 44, was found dead outside Wembley Stadium before the England v Wales Euro 2012 qualifier

41-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a Wales football fan who was found with head injuries outside Wembley Stadium.

The man, who is yet to be named by police, was arrested in Worcestershire on Friday before being charged by detectives on Saturday night.

A murder investigation was launched after Michael Dye, 44, was found injured on Tuesday evening near Gate C of the north London stadium, before England played Wales in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

He was taken to Northwick Park hospital but later died. A postmortem examination showed the cause of death to be blunt trauma to the back of the head.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the suspect was being held in custody at West Mercia police station and is due to appear in court on Monday.

Six men who were initially arrested in connection with the death have now all been released without charge, he added.

“We have been informed that a 41-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Michael Dye,” said the spokesman.

“We are awaiting confirmation of his details and where he will be appearing in court on Monday.”

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Sheila Stewart said the incident “emerged from a moment of brutal violence with catastrophic consequences”.

Thousands of tributes have been paid to the Cardiff fan on a dedicated Facebook page, with several messages referring to his wife, Nathalie, and children.

There was applause for Dye before Saturday’s npower Championship match against Doncaster, while both teams wore black armbands.

The club chairman, Gethin Jenkins, said Dye was “clearly a committed and passionate supporter” and that his death was “extremely sad”

Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes has said he intends to pursue the possibility of bringing David Beckham to Loftus Road.

The ex-England captain wants to play for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics and Fernandes believes QPR can help.

“Beckham’s advisers want to talk because our vision is a long-term one, with commercial things David can do with me in Asia,” said the Malaysian. “It’s something we have to work at.”

QPR could make their move in January.

Fernandes added that he can offer the 36-year-old the “love, care and attention” he requires to fulfil his ambition of captaining Team GB at the London Games.

The Malaysian entrepreneur thinks the former Manchester United player might be tempted by a chance of another season in the Premier League and is adamant that signing Beckham is a realistic proposition.

“If you look at the five signings we’ve made, we have brought in people who have something to prove,” said Lotus team principal Fernandes before Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

“Shaun Wright-Phillips still feels he can play for England; Joey Barton has a lot to prove; Anton Ferdinand, missing in action at Sunderland but back home in London, has things to prove.

“Then we’ve Luke Young, who felt he was deserted early by England manager Fabio Capello, and Armand Traore was never given a chance at Arsenal by Arsene Wenger.

“So we’ve five new players, and Beckham could fit into that mould because he wants to return and captain Great Britain at the Olympics.

“I’m not sure it’s for him, and I’m not sure it will suit him in the January transfer window. Who knows?

“But I’m an ideas man, and he is an idea. He may not want it, he may want a bigger club. I hear [Tottenham manager] Harry Redknapp has said he wants him.

“Ultimately, our manager Neil Warnock has to feel comfortable, but who knows what can happen in January? We will have to wait and see.”

Beckham is in the final year of his Major League Soccer contract. He has made 69 appearances for Galaxy since joining from Real Madrid in 2007 and spent time training with Tottenham during the MLS season break in February.

(BBC Football )