By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he cried at learning of the tragic death of 25-year-old Italian midfielder Piermario Morosini during a Serie B match at the weekend.
The former under-21 international, who was on loan at Livorno from Udinese, died after suffering a suspected heart attack when collapsing in the 31st minute at Pescara on Saturday (April 14).
“There are no words to express what I felt when I learned about Morosini’s death,” Blatter said.
“I only have tears.”
All remaining league games in Italy were subsequently postponed following Morosini’s death and the country is still in mourning.
“I cannot be physically close to the family, but I want to stress that my feelings are with them in this moment,” Blatter tweeted.
“The tragedy that has hit those who loved him is a source of pain for all football fans.”
Born in Bergamo, Morosini made his Serie A debut against Inter Milan in October 2005.
He was loaned out several times, the latest to Livorno in January this year.
Morosini’s death immediately prompted reminders of Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba who was technically “dead” for 78 minutes after similarly collapsing in an FA Cup tie at Tottenham Hotspur last month.
The 24-year-old somehow managed to survive and is making steady improvement after being discharged from hospital.
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April 2012: Football world shaken as Italy’s Piermario Morosini suffers fatal heart attack on pitch