FOOTBALL will unite today in paying tribute to George Best, who died yesterday in a West London hospital after a long struggle against the effects of alcoholism. He was 59. Barclays Premiership and Football League matches will be preceded by a minute’s silence for the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland player. In Scotland, Celtic will have a minute’s applause in his honour.

Floral tributes, scarves and messages began arriving yesterday at the Cromwell Hospital in Kensington, where Best had spent the last seven weeks of his life as he battled against kidney and lung infections, and also at Old Trafford, scene of many of his most memorable performances. United will open a book of remembrance in his honour.

The impact of the death of one of the most celebrated footballers of all time reverberated across Europe, with L’Equipe in France and La Gazzetta dello Sport in Milan leading their websites with details.

The end came at 12.55pm when Best died from multiple organ failure, with his close family and friends at his bedside. Best’s son, Calum, said: “Not only have I lost my Dad but we’ve all lost a wonderful man.” Best’s father, Dickie, 87, asked that the family be allowed to grieve in peace.

Best’s sister, Barbara McNarry, reading a statement on behalf of the family, said: “As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time, so you will understand if we are a bit emotional.” She thanked the medical staff who looked after Best throughout his illness, saying “words cannot describe the lengths to which they have gone to make this easy for the family”.

Best will be buried next Friday in Belfast, in the grave next to his mother, Ann. He has requested that his organs be used to help others.

Best was admitted to hospital on October 1, suffering a flu-like infection. His health deteriorated rapidly when he developed a kidney infection, but he rallied and his condition was thought to be improving until the early hours of Friday last week, when he suffered a severe setback. He developed a lung infection and was put back on a ventilator in intensive care.

On Thursday, his doctor, Professor Roger Williams, one of the country’s leading liver disease experts, who had become a confidant of the former player, said that Best was “in the final stages of his illness and I am afraid that he could die at any time over the next 24 hours”. Yesterday, the football world was in mourning.

• The family of George Best have set up an online memorial website. It is www.george-best.gonetoosoon.co.uk

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