All weekend soccer in Italy was called off following the death of Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who collapsed during a Serie B game against Pescara.
Morosini, 25, suffered a cardiac arrest during an Italian second division game at Pescara and was later pronounced dead in hospital, Reuters reported.
The move to suspend matches, announced by Italian Football Federation general manager Antonello Valentini, included the Serie A competition.
Morosini was given urgent medical attention on the pitch after collapsing 31 minutes into the match, when a defibrillator was also used.
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The Associated Press reported that the player was conscious when he was stretchered off the pitch but was put into a medically induced coma at Pescara's Santo Spirito hospital.
Italian news agency Ansa reported that Morosini suffered a heart attack in the ambulance.
"He looked at me in the eyes when he was taken into the ambulance," Pescara's general manager, Danilo Iannascoli, reportedly told Sky Italia.
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