Pascal Darmon died from his wounds after being attacked by an unnamed man

The former president of Rouen Football Club has been stabbed to death in the centre of the French city.

Pascal Darmon, who now runs a wine business, died from his wounds after being attacked by an unnamed man.

Police at the scene in Rue Alsace-Lorraine said there was 'no known motive' and that the alleged perpetrator was arrested soon afterwards.

'He tried to escape, and fled to a nearby apartment, but was soon taken in to custody,' said an investigating source.

The murder took place in the mid-afternoon on Tuesday, and led to dozens of police and soldiers arriving at the scene.

The suspect, an unnamed male in his 30s, locked himself in a flat opposite the wine and restaurant, and was finally arrested unhurt at 6.40pm.

Police found a handgun at the scene of the murder, but it had not been discharged, said the judicial source.

More than 20 police cars and military vans have cordoned off a large area of the city

The police were deployed near the city's Saint Mark's Square and Alsace-Lorraine Street, where the incident took place

He added that the principal theory being looked at in the initial investigation was a 'settling of scores'.

More than 20 police cars and military vans cordoned off a large area of the city, around 50km north of Paris.

The police were deployed near the city's Saint Mark's Square and Alsace-Lorraine Street, where the incident took place.

Paying tribute to Mr Darmon this evening, Valérie Fourneyron, the former mayor of Rouen and former sports minister of François Hollande, expressed his 'immense sadness' to learn of the 'assassination' of the former president of FC Rouen.

Mr Darmon, 55, was president of the club from 2005 to 2012.

His time at the club was always fraught with legal difficulties and he faced a criminal investigation over financial irregularities after leaving the club.

In 2016, two men stabbed a priest to death in Rouen after taking churchgoers hostage.

The attackers were found to be carrying fake explosives when they were shot dead by police.

The aggressor allegedly attacked the former president of Rouen football team in the Rue Alsace-Lorraine, local media reported