Davide Astori: Clubs to pay tribute with minute's silence at Champions League and Europa League games following Fiorentina captain's sudden death

Astori passed away aged 31
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
Standard Sport5 March 2018

Tributes will be paid before Champions League and Europa League games this week to honour former Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, who died over the weekend.

Uefa said on Monday there will be a minute's silence in memory of the Fiorentina skipper before all games.

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

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

In Pictures | Fans pay respects to Davide Astori

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Astori, 31, was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest before his team was set to play a Serie A 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 on 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.

Serie A matches postponed following the sudden death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori

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 centre, on the outskirts of the city, for people to pay their respects.

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

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

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.

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