There will be no matches played in Italy this weekend following the tragic death of Livorno player Piermario Morosini during a Serie B game yesterday.
Morosini, who was only 25 years old, collapsed on the pitch during Livorno’s encounter against Pescara and was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Morosini collapsed on the pitch during the first half, leading to the game being abandoned while he received treatment from medical officials at the scene and players from both sides became visibly distressed at what was taking place.
He was subsequently taken to the Civile Santo Spirito hospital in Pescara, but it has since emerged that the ambulance was delayed from entering the pitch because a vehicle had been blocking the entrance.
Morosini is believed to have been conscious when put into the ambulance on the pitch, but his condition had become serious by the time he arrived at the hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
A statement on the Lega Serie B website read: “Tragedy on the field. After suffering a cardiac arrest during the match between Pescara and Livorno, Piermario Morosini has died.
“The 25-year-old player, who came through the youth ranks with Atalanta, arrived at Livorno from Udinese in January and played nine times for the Amaranto.”
All games in Italy have been postponed as a mark of respect for Morosini. The Lega Serie A said in a statement on their website: “The football world mourns the tragedy that occurred this afternoon in Pescara, where during the game between the hosts and Livorno, the player Piermario Morosini slumped to the ground suffering from a heart attack. Transported to the hospital, the young midfielder was put into an induced coma, but died at around 1700.
“The FIGC has suspended, in memory of Piermario, all games scheduled over the weekend.”
Morosini’s tragic death comes less than a month after Fabrice Muamba’s near fatal heart attack at White Hart Lane last month. On that occasion, it took nearly an hour and a half for Muamba’s heart to start beating on its own once again, but the Bolton midfielder has made a miraculous recovery since and is progressing well against all the odds.
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