Brother of Yaya and Kolo Touré dies in Manchester

The Ivorian Football Federation has announced the death of Ibrahim Touré, the brother of Kolo and Yaya Touré.

In a statement on its official website, the IFF said that 28-year-old Ibrahim, himself a player with the Lebanon-based Al Safa, passed away hours after the Ivory Coast’s 2-1 World Cup loss to Colombia on Thursday.

No reason was given for the death, other than that it occurred in Manchester, where Yaya Touré plays his club football with City.

The statement said: “A tough day for the Touré brothers. Just hours after the match Colombia v Côte d’Ivoire (2-1), Kolo and Yaya have learned of the death of their younger brother Touré Oyala Ibrahim. The entire Ivorian delegation to Brazil supports them in this painful circumstance.

“The president of the Ivorian Football Federation [FIF] and the Executive Committee are to inform the family of Ivorian football, the death of Ibrahim Touré occurred on Thursday June 19 in Manchester.

“In these painful circumstances, the players of the national team of Côte d’Ivoire as well as the entire Ivorian delegation present in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup are to demonstrate their compassion [to the] Touré brothers, members of the Elephants and the great Touré family.”

Yaya Touré played against Colombia while Kolo Touré was an unused substitute. Guardian