Bernard Ross (pictured), 51, was last seen in England on October 18 and was reportedly sighted in the south of France on October 31
The wife of a bipolar former Uefa boss who went missing last month has begged him to come home for Christmas and fears he may behave ‘unpredictably’ without his medication.
Bernard Ross, 51, former head of production at Uefa, was last seen on October 18 leaving his Oxford home to travel to London to see his sister.
He was spotted in Marseille on October 22 and Grasse in the south of France on October 31, but police believe he may have travelled to Switzerland – where he used to work for at the football giant’s headquarters in Nyon.
In a message directed to her husband, his wife Jacinta said: ‘Bernie, we all miss you desperately. I understand. Please just come back and we can rebuild our lives.’
He lost his job with the football governing body last year and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in January, leaving him in hospital for six months.
Mrs Ross says psychiatrists think the forthcoming anniversary of his last day at work may be behind the reason he vanished, and fears this could trigger ‘dangerous thoughts’.
He is supposed to take lithium every day but is only believed to have 28 days of medication with him, which is soon due to run out.
Mr Ross, who is the former head of production at Uefa (pictured centre with his wife Jacinta and children Oscar, 14, Felix, 17, Theo, 18, and Matilda, 11) lost his job last year and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder
She said: ‘It’s essential he takes his medication every day.
‘We think when he left he would have had about 28 days of medication with him, maybe more, so he will be running out soon if he has been taking it.
‘He did a job he loved for 11 years and was very successful.
‘He’s had an appalling year since January and was in and out of hospital.
‘Shortly before he disappeared his treatment seemed to start working and I felt like I was beginning to get my husband back again. But with that came clarity.’
She is keen to join the hunt in person but feels she cannot leave her children, instead turning her efforts towards spreading the word from the UK as much as possible.
The couple have four children together – Oscar, 14, Felix, 17, Theo, 18 and Matilda, 11.
She added: ‘I feel like the sense of urgency (among the authorities) has been lost.
‘Time is of the essence, his family is desperate to have him home for Christmas.’
His family were previously seeking legal action against Uefa after alleging that ‘work overload and improper management by his superiors are the only possible cause of Mr Ross’s mental breakdown and his development of bipolar disorder at this stage in his life’, according to The Times.
In a series of legal letters seen by the newspaper, the family’s solicitor says that after delivering ‘the most successful coverage of a Uefa Euro tournament yet’ he was promised a promotion to director of television and digital.
But they claim it did not materialise after he started becoming paranoid and showing signs of mental illness.
Yesterday Mrs Ross’s MP Layla Moran called on the Government to help in the search for Mr Ross, and Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom vowed to look into the case.
The 51-year-old from Oxford could become ‘unpredictable’ after potentially being off his medication for 28 days
The Lib Dem Oxford West and Abingdon MP said: ‘Uefa will not help him, and the family are struggling to get information from police forces in EU member states.
‘Will the Leader of the House use her good offices to see whether the relevant departments can give the family any assistance, and get Bernie Ross home for Christmas?’
Ms Leadsom replied: ‘I’m very sorry to hear about the honourable lady’s case. If she writes to me about it, I will certainly take it up on her behalf.’
Mr Ross is believed to be travelling around the continent on a fold-up Brompton bicycle.
He is a fluent French speaker and described as 5ft 7in of medium build.
Anyone with information or who sees Mr Ross is asked to call police urgently on 0044 1865 841148 or email HBI@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.