Gaziantepspor defender Frantisek Rajtoral and former Czech Republic defender has tragically taken his own life, the Turkish club’s president has confirmed.
Rajtoral played 14 times for his country and was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. The 31-year-old was found to have passed away at his house on Sunday, with the alarm raised after he failed to turn up to training.
The defender joined Turkish top-flight club Gaziantepspor in 2016, having spent seven years with Viktoria Plzen, where he won the Czech league twice.
The Czech Football Association expressed its “deepest condolences to all his relatives”.
According to BBC Sport, Plzen paid tribute to their former player, saying in a statement: “Rest in peace Rajt, we will all miss you so much, we will never forget you.”
Turkish media reported Rajtoral was found hanged at his home after Gaziantepspor alerted authorities to his absence in training on Sunday.
Unfortunately I can confirm that the news of suicide is true,” the club’s president Ibrahim Kizil told Turkish media outlet Sporx. His team-mates were concerned after Rajtoral didn’t participate in today’s training session. He had good spirits, he didn’t seem to have any problem. I really don’t know why he did such a thing.”
The former Czech Republic international moved to Turkey in August 2016 having previously played for Marila Pribram, Banik Ostrava, Viktoria Plzen and Hannover.
Gaziantepspor manager Bulent Uygun was quoted as saying by Sabah: “We did not expect such a thing at all. All my players are in shock. Everybody is shedding tears.”