SOCCER:A Championship footballer was arrested in connection with a motorway crash on Christmas Day which left a father-of-five dead, it emerged today.

Jordan Robertson, 20, who is a Sheffield United striker currently on loan to Southampton, was arrested by Leicestershire police on suspicion of dangerous driving following a collision on the M1 near Lutterworth on December 25th. He was later bailed.

Omar Mohamed, 38, from Leicester, was seriously injured in the incident and died in hospital on St Stephen's Day.

Today Sheffield United issued a brief statement which said: "It is an unfortunate tragedy and our condolences go out to the family of Mr Mohamed but Sheffield United cannot make further comment as it is a police matter."

Robertson, who is originally from Sheffield, is understood to have been the driver of a black Mercedes CLC 180 sport car which was in collision with Mr Mohamed's Ford Galaxy on the southbound carriageway at junction 19.

Leicestershire police confirmed an incident between the two cars happened at about 2.50pm on Christmas Day.

A spokesman said Mr Mohamed sustained serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to the Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry.

He said: "The injured man died at 4.15pm on Friday December 26th. No one else was injured in the collision.

"A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with incident on suspicion of dangerous driving.

"He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries and is due to return to a police station in the New Year."