LONDON -- Britains independent police watchdog opened an investigation Monday into the death of a former Premier League soccer player who was shot with a stun gun by police.Dalian Atkinson, 48, went into cardiac arrest on the way to a hospital and died around 90 minutes after officers used a Taser on him, the West Midlands Ambulance Service said in a statement. Officers deployed stun guns after being called to an address in Telford, northwest of Birmingham, involving the safety of an individual, West Mercia Police said.He had some health issues that he was trying to get through and thats why his heart was weak, his nephew Fabian Atkinson said. When a Taser is deployed, as soon as a Taser is deployed, they need to automatically call an ambulance. How do they know the health of the guy or the girl that they are affecting?The case immediately touched off a debate about the use of Tasers in a country where police rarely carry guns.Black people were three times more likely to be involved in Taser incidents than whites from 2011 to 2015, according to Home Office statistics obtained by the BBC in a Freedom of Information request. Atkinson was black.The Independent Police Complaints Commission swiftly moved to take charge of the investigation into Atkinsons death.I would like to assure people that we have begun a full and thorough investigation into police contact with Dalian Atkinson prior to his death, including the level and type of force used, said the IPCCs deputy chair, Rachel Cerfontyne. Our investigation team have been securing and preserving relevant evidence, and identifying witnesses.Three of Atkinsons former clubs -- Aston Villa, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday -- all paid respects in posts on their websites. Englands Football Association said it was saddened to hear of the passing of Atkinson, who represented Englands `B team.Atkinson scored 20 Premier League goals during his time at Villa from 1991-95. He also played for Ipswich, Wednesday and Manchester City in England, and had spells with Real Sociedad in Spain, Fenerbahce in Turkey and also in South Korea.Atkinson was most famous for a scoring a goal for Villa against Wimbledon in October 1992, when he ran from inside his own half, evaded a number of attempted challenges before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. It was voted as goal of the season in the 1992-93 Premier League.Atkinson also scored in the 1994 League Cup final when Villa beat Manchester United 3-1.Aston Villa is saddened to hear of the death of our former striker Dalian Atkinson, the second-tier club said in a statement. Dalian undoubtedly provided real memorable moments during his time in claret and blue.Wednesday said Atkinson was widely regarded as one of the most exciting football talents to emerge during the mid-1980s to early 1990s.In an era when English players seldom played abroad, Atkinson scored 12 goals in 29 league games during one season with Real Sociedad, before returning to England to play for Villa. He scored 10 goals in 21 league games for Istanbul-based Fenerbahce after leaving Villa.---Steve Douglas reported from Manchester. College Football Jerseys . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. NCAA Jerseys . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. 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Essendon coach John Worsfold will know more about Jobe Watsons playing future when he meets with the AFL skipper in the coming days.Watson and Tayte Pears are the only two players of the dozen current Bombers serving doping suspensions not to announce their intentions for next year.At 31, Watson is mulling retirement, while Pears is considering career opportunities away from football.Worsfold told RSN927 on Wednesday morning he couldnt offer an update on Watsons thinking as he continued his overseas holiday.(But)I can let you know that Ill catch up with Jobe in just over a week or so, when he arrives back in the country, Worsfold said.Im looking forward to catching up with him then.Worsfold said he would love to see Jobe add to his 200 AFL games, but acknowledges his love of the game has suffered with the ban handed down by ASADA for his role in the clubs 2012 supplemennts program.ddddddddddddAbsolutely he is (hurt) ... the situation that hes in, we know these players feel like they did a fair bit to try and not end up in this position.They didnt ever believe they would be in this position because of the measures they attempted to take.They are hurt because in their hearts they cant believe that its got to this point, where theyve sat out of footy for a year.The coach said he would like to help Watson rediscover his passion for the game whether he chooses to retire or not.Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Travis Colyer, David Myers, Brent Stanton, Ben Howlett, Heath Hocking and Tom Bellchambers have all re-committed to the club after their bans expire, while Michael Hibberd has requested a trade. 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