Atkinson scored a goal in the tradition of the great Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, winning a 50-50 ball deep in Villa’s half and picking up speed as he slalomed through the Wimbledon defense only to loft a delicate chip over Dons keeper Hans Segers for the goal.
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Police were called to house at around 1.30am this morning amid concerns “for the safety of an individual”.
The 48-year-old was pronounced dead at about 3am, approximately 90 minutes after being hit by a stun gun.
Mr Atkinson’s father Ernest, 85, reportedly said his son was agitated before he was Tasered while neighbours described how he was “almost staggering” in the street.
Speaking from his home on the day of the incident, he said: “He was in a real state”. I don’t know if he was drunk or if it was hard to see.
“He was threatening and very upset”.
“West Mercia Police were called to a property at around 1.30am on Monday”.
Neighbours reported that there had been “banging and shouting, and doors being kicked in” before police arrived, and that “Dalian was shouting about being homeless”.
Atkinson had a number of health issues and, according to nephew Fabian, the former player’s heart was weak.
“If in this incident there was no knife or gun or any weapon or any threat to the officer which they could deal with in the conventional ways, then the Taser should not have been used”.
“The police officer shouted something about deploying the Taser but because the gentleman was still stumbling forwards he deployed the Taser anyway”, Quinn told Sky.
The FA tweeted: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of former England B worldwide Dalian Atkinson”. “Our investigation team have been securing and preserving relevant evidence, and identifying witnesses”.
IPCC deputy chairwoman Rachel Cerfontyne said: “I would like to assure people that we have begun a full and thorough investigation into police contact with Dalian Atkinson prior to his death, including the level and type of force used”. British police are not routinely armed.
The incident follows the death of ex-soldier Spencer Beynon in June.
The tragic death of Dalian Atkinson and at least 10 other such cases in England and Wales over the last decade show, all too often Taser use is fatal.
Atkinson played as a striker in the Football League and Premier League for English teams Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the 90s.
Atkinson played for various football clubs, such as Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and the Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa.
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. Over his 15-year professional career, Atkinson played in England, Spain, Turkey, France, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
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Tributes were paid by the footballing world, with Villa tweeting: “RIP Dalian Atkinson”.
