Rangers fan dies in Lisbon after Europa League match
A RANGERS fan died in Portugal after travelling to the country to see his side take on Benfica on Thursday night.
Thomas McAllister, 25, passed away in Lisbon following the Glasgow club’s Europa League tie with the Portuguese giants. The club confirmed the news yesterday as they offered their “immediate thoughts to Thomas’s family and friends”.
Rangers CEO 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.”
No details were provided on the circumstances of his death. It is understood, via Mr McAllister’s Facebook, that he was a former pupil of Drumchapel High School.
In tributes on Facebook, Nicolle Fullerton said: “You’ve left us all heartbroken, still can’t come to terms with this news.”
She revealed that Mr McAllister was a dad adding: “Watching you grow from that tiny beautiful blonde haired boy to such an amazing daddy to your beautiful kids you made us all proud.
“Tommy tuck, this is a hard one. One as a family we will need to support your mum, your beautiful kids and as a community lost another young life far to soon.
“Sleep tight, going to miss that big smile and laugh of yours.”
Mr McAllister shared an image of himself in Lisbon with two friends on Facebook almost a day ago with the caption, “Ma brothers.”