Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove collapsed and was rushed off the pitch in an ambulance during his side’s Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday.
Bove, 22, went down untouched in the 16th minute with referee Daniele Doveri hurriedly stopping the game to allow him to receive treatment.
The match was quickly suspended and the players returned to their dressing rooms as Bove was transported away from the stadium and to hospital.
Players and staff had formed a wall around Bove while medical staff tended to him.
Several players from both sides were seen crying and with their heads in their hands.
Inter Milan released a statement shortly after the incident, saying: ‘The match has been suspended due to a medical emergency.’
Sky Sport Italia reported that Bove was taken to the Careggi hospital near the Stadio Artemio Franchi, where the game had been played on Sunday evening.
The game has been officially postponed to an unknown date.
A Serie A statement read: ‘The match will not resume and is postponed to a date to be determined. With the game interrupted, Bove collapsed to the ground and the situation immediately appeared very serious.
‘An ambulance took the player away, we await news.’
Bove is on loan at Fiorentina from Roma and has made 14 appearances to date. He scored his first goal for his current club against his parent side in October.
An Italy international, Bove has played for his country at every age group up to the Under-21s but is yet to receive a call-up to the senior set-up.
Fiorentina are currently third in Serie A, level on points with Inter.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, who joined Fiorentina earlier this season, prayed for Bove’s health in a short message on social media.
‘God please,’ he wrote on X.
More to follow.
