Minute's silence to honor Astori at UEFA games

Posted March 05, 2018 6:00 am

The Associated Press

A banner reading in Italian "So long captain" is hung outside the Artemio Franchi stadium to honor Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 4, 2018. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died, the club has announced Sunday. He was 31. Astori was found in the early hours of Sunday morning in his hotel room in Udine, where the team was staying ahead of an Italian league match. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP) The Associated Press

NYON, Switzerland (AP) - Tributes will be paid before Champions League and Europa League games this week to honor Italian player Davide Astori, who died over the weekend.

UEFA said Monday there will be a minute's silence in memory of the Fiorentina captain before all games.

Three Italian clubs are playing this week, including AC Milan, where Astori began his professional career.

Juventus plays at Tottenham in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Milan and Lazio host Europa League games on Thursday against Arsenal and Dynamo Kiev, respectively.

The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest before his team was set to play an Italian league match at Udinese.

His funeral will take place on Thursday at the Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence.

"He did what he had to do in this chaotic world and left for a better world," Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves said Monday. "We are sad because we lost a colleague. The whole team wants to send its support to his family and friends."

A criminal investigation has been opened but Udine prosecutor Antonio De Nicolo stressed that it was normal procedure and there is no current reason to suspect any wrongdoing.

An autopsy will take place on Tuesday and Astori's body will be brought back to Florence the following day and taken to Italy's national training center, on the outskirts of the city, for people to pay their respects.

Astori played 14 times for Italy, including at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

He leaves behind his wife and a 2-year-old daughter.

In this photo taken on Thursday, March 24, 2016, Italy's Davide Astori poses during a friendly soccer match between Italy and Spain, at the Friuli Dacia Arena stadium in Udine, Italy. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died, the club has announced. He was 31. Astori was found in the early hours of Sunday morning in his hotel room in Udine, where the team was staying ahead of an Italian league match. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini) The Associated Press

Supporters lay flowers and scarves to pay their homage to Davide Astori, outside the Artemio Franchi stadium, in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 4, 2018. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday at the age of 31 after a suspected cardiac arrest before an Italian league match. The defender, who has also played 14 times for Italyâs national team, was discovered by Fiorentina staff when he failed to show up for breakfast at the hotel in Udine. Fiorentinaâs game at Udinese in northeast Italy was called off, along with all fixtures in the countryâs top two divisions. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP) The Associated Press

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