A professional footballer and married dad of four has dropped dead during a match in Egypt.

Sami Saeed Al-Qatani collapsed on the pitch during a third-division match between Al Hilal Matruh and opposing team Al Masry Salloum on Tuesday evening (13th December).

Local media reported that the 36-year-old team captain suffered a nasty clash with a defender from the opposing team.

Following the coming-together, he reportedly fell to the ground, and his tongue fell back and obstructed his airway.

Footage of his fall to the turf can be seen here.

The incident prompted the referee to call the match off 15 minutes early as paramedics tended to Al-Qatani on the pitch.

After they failed to revive him at the scene, he was rushed to a nearby hospital by ambulance.

However, he ended up passing away, despite medics’ best efforts.

His tragic and untimely death was announced by Ibrahim Abu Sandouq, a member of the board of directors of Al Hilal Matruh.

Ashraf Sobhy, Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, has ordered “the formation of a fact-finding committee” to investigate the player’s death.

Local media reported that in addition to his job as a football player, Al-Qatani was also a physical education teacher.

He reportedly leaves behind a wife and four children.