Player dies after collapsing on field

Romanian international midfielder Catalin Haldan died on Thursday after collapsing on the field during a friendly between Dinamo Bucharest and a second division team from Oltenita.

''Haldan died in Oltenita hospital,'' Dinamo spokesman Ionel Culina said. ''The club cancelled the helicopter it had called to bring him to Bucharest.''

Earlier Dinamo president Marcel Popescu said that according to the team's doctor, Haldan suffered a cerebral attack and was clinically dead on the pitch before being taken to hospital in Oltenita, 60 km southwest of the capital.

Haldan, 24, played eight matches for Romania, scoring one goal. He was in Romania's squad for the 2000 European championship in The Netherlands and Belgium but he did not play during the tournament.

At Euro 2000 Haldan fainted during the first training session of the Romanian team. Medical investigations revealed no serious health problems.

Reports from Belgium said at the time Haldan had fainted after an accidental collision with team mate Miodrag Belodedici.

They said the national team's doctor had helped Haldan to avoid swallow his tongue and the player resumed training a few minutes later.

Two years ago another Romanian player, midfielder Stefan Vrabioru of first division Astra Ploiesti, died after collapsing on the pitch in a match against Rapid Bucharest.

UNI