Former England player and broadcaster Gary Lineker wrote: “Terrible news about Dalian Atkinson”.
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A Taser should not have been used by police officers to subdue Dalian Atkinson, a specialist lawyer has said.
The Professional Footballers’ Association has said that it was urgently seeking treatment for Atkinson, who was due to see a specialist about his kidney condition on the day he died.
Bobby Barnes, the PFA deputy chief executive, formerly of West Ham, who was a contemporary of Atkinson, said that Atkinson, who was 48 when he died, had spoken personally to chief executive Gordon Taylor on Friday about his situation.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking into the death, which came after the retired footballer was tasered outside his father’s house.
Palmer said: “It can be hard for players when they finish and I know Dalian found it hard”.
The incident has now been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the police watchdog, which said its officers had launched an investigation.
About half of respondents believed their use was justified for people behaving violently or suspected of carrying a weapon, and about a quarter said it was appropriate on someone threatening to do self-harm.
The ambulance service said Atkinson went into cardiac arrest as he was being taken to Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital.
In 1992, while playing for Aston Villa, Atkinson scored the goal he’s best remembered for.
Another of his former clubs, Sheffield Wednesday, said: “The thoughts of everyone at Wednesday are with the friends and family of Dalian Atkinson this morning”.
West Mercia Police said it responded to a report expressing concern for the safety of an individual at about 01:30 BST on Monday. “It can be a very risky spiral and unfortunately that’s what it was for Dalian”.
Atkinson’s brother, Kenroy Atkinson, said that Atkinson was in a “manic state” at the time.
The IPCC now is investigating the death of another British person, former soldier Spencer Beynon, in June following the use of a Taser by police.
Campaigners have raised concerns about the safety of stun guns and called for restrictions on their use until more is known about the risks.
He scored the victor for Villa in 1994 when it beat Manchester United with Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs, 3-1, to win the League Cup.
“Our investigation team have been securing and preserving relevant evidence, and identifying witnesses”.
After the police cordon was lifted, an Aston Villa season ticket-holder who lives locally placed a replica shirt on the front wall of the Atkinson family home as a mark of respect.
There were 10,329 incidents involving police Tasers in 2015, a two per cent rise on the previous year, according to government figures. It was voted goal of the season in 1992-93.
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Atkinson’s former teammates and clubs added their messages of shock and sympathy.
