Greece have reportedly requested to postpone tonight’s clash against England after former national team player George Baldock was found dead in a pool in his home.
The defender was discovered after his wife back in England had been unable to get hold of him for several hours, local newspapers report.
The 31-year-old made over 400 appearances in English football and spent seven years with the Blades, twice earning promotion to the Premier League, before joining Greek side Panathinaikos this summer.
Despite being born in Buckinghamshire, he played for Greece 12 times – qualifying through his grandmother’s nationality – and, in response to his death, the Greek FA have asked to postpone the Nations League clash with England.
According to Greek outlet SDNA, the Hellenic FA have been in ‘constant contact’ with UEFA about postponing the game, but European football’s governing body have insisted that goes ahead as planned.
Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has reportedly died aged 31 in Greece
Greece have asked to postpone their clash against England following Baldock’s death
The scene where former Sheffield United defender George Baldock was found dead in his swimming pool in Athens, Greece
Baldock was living in this property in the Greek capital after a move to club giant Panathinaikos
The report adds that the team are in a ‘state of shock’ that they are still being asked to play in what will be a ‘very difficult’ game against England.
Earlier in the day, they also paid tribute to Baldock – who made 12 appearances for the national side prior to his tragic death.
In a statement, the Hellenic Football Federation said: ‘With deep sadness and pain, the National Team and the Hellenic Football Federation say goodbye to George Baldock.
‘There are no words to describe the human pain caused by the news of the untimely loss of one of our young people. The moment calls for silence.
‘Condolences to his family. Condolences from his second family. Goodbye’.
It’s likely that the game will still go ahead and, prior to kick-off, the English FA have confirmed that both sides will wear black armbands in tribute to Baldock.
In a statement, they said: ‘At the request of Greece, there will be a period of silence and both teams will wear black armbands at Wembley Stadium this evening to mark the sudden passing of George Baldock.
The Greek FA and his latest club Panathinaikos have both paid tribute to the defender
Baldock was a mainstay of English football before leaving and also played 12 times for Greece
‘As originally planned, Wembley will acknowledge and celebrate the life of Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley ahead of the pre-match ceremony’.
Baldock missed out on Greece’s most recent squad after suffering an injury which ruled him out of games in September.
He made his debut for Greece in a 1–0 win over Northern Ireland on June 2nd 2022.
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos – the club which Baldock joined back in May – also paid tribute with a statement.
The former Sheffield United defender made just four appearances in all competitions for the Greek side prior to his tragic death.
‘We are overwhelmed, we are shocked by the loss of our George. The family of Panathinaikos mourns his untimely death. We stand by the family and relatives of George Baldock,’ they wrote.
Baldock’s wife reportedly tried to contact him for several hours without a response, before she got in touch with the owner of his villa in Glyfada, a suburb south of Athens.
Police secure the area outside the house of British-born Panathinaikos and Greece defender George Baldock, where he was found dead, in the suburb of Glyfada, Athens
After searching the suburban property, they found Baldock in the communal pool and called the emergency services.
He was reportedly in the water for several hours before he was found, according to images seen by the response unit.
Baldock was long a mainstay of English football, amassing 219 appearances at Sheffield United alone.
He twice won promotion to the Premier League with the Yorkshire outfit.
A heartbroken Sheffield United paid tribute to their former player as they announced the news to their fans.
‘Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock,’ they posted on X.
‘The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.
‘The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.’
Sheffield United paid tribute to their former player as they announced the news to their fans
After his wife was unable to contact him, the owner of the villa searched the property and found him in the pool
Northampton Town, where he played five games on loan, wrote on X: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31.
‘Sending our sincerest condolences to George’s family and friends.’
His boyhood club, MK Dons, said they were ‘devastated’ to hear the news, in an emotional post as they said he ‘will always be one of our own’.
They said: ‘We are deeply devastated and saddened to learn about the shocking news of former Academy graduate and MK Dons player, George Baldock.
‘George started his career at Stadium MK, where he worked his way through the youth ranks and made his senior career debut at the Club before reaching the heights of the Premier League in later years.
‘Everyone affiliated with MK Dons shares a great love for George, Sam and the Baldock family, and we would like to share our sincerest condolences during these awful times.
Baldock waves farewell to the fans ahead of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane
‘You will always be one of our own, George.’
Also responding to the news, England football’s official account said they were ‘extremely saddened’.
They continued: ‘We’re extremely saddened by the passing of George Baldock.
‘George was close to many of our players, and represented Greece – our opponents on Thursday night. We’re thinking of George’s family, friends and team-mates at club and country at this difficult time.’
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