UEFA to hold minute’s silence for Fiorentina and Italy defender Astori

March 3 – Tributes will be paid before Champions League and Europa League games this week in honour of Davide Astori, the Fiorentina defender and former Italian international who died tragically at the weekend aged 31.

UEFA says there will be a minute’s silence in memory of before all games.

Three Italian clubs are playing this week, including AC Milan, where Astori began his professional career. Juventus play plays at Tottenham in the Champions League on Wednesday while and Milan and Lazio host Europa League games on Thursday against Arsenal and Dinamo Kiev.

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.

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.

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