Davide Astori, Italy international defender and captain of Fiorentina died of natural causes after a cardiac circulatory collapse.
Antonio de Nicolo, a Udine magistrate described the cause of death as a kind of heart attack, in reports published by Italian media.
Astori, 31 years old, died in his hotel room during the night of Saturday to Sunday, his club Fiorentina said.
The magistrate added that it was strange that such a thing happened without any warning symptoms in a profession which is so closely monitored.
Astoris body was taken to a hospital in Udine for an autopsy.
Fiorentina are profoundly shocked to have to announce the death of captain Davide Astori after a sudden illness, the Serie A club said on Twitter. The 31-year-old, who leaves behind a two-year-old daughter, was in Udine to prepare for Sundays match against Udinese.
Fiorentinas game was called off in the morning. The early kick off between Genoa and Cagliari, one of Astoris former clubs, was abandoned when players learned the news while warming up on the pitch.
The Italian league then postponed the other five Serie A matches scheduled for Sunday, including the Milan derby.
Astori began his career at AC Milan, also playing for Cagliari and Roma before joining Fiorentina in 2015. He played 14 times for Italy.
Former team-mates, coaches and teams were amongst those taking to social media to express their grief.
Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus captain, called Astori a great man.
Farewell dear Asto, wrote Buffon in a post on Instagram accompanied by a photo of the two players exchanging pennants before a game between their clubs.
Buffon said he did not usually make a habit of expressing his feelings about others.
I want to make an exception to my rule because you have a young wife and others close to you who are suffering, but mostly because your little girl deserves to know that her dad was a good man a great man, Buffon wrote.
Meanwhile former Italy manager Antonio Conte, now in charge of Chelsea, was visibly upset as he paid tribute to Astori ahead of the Blues match with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.
This is a tragedy and it really hurts me. Its very difficult at this moment to find the right words for the family, Conte told Sky Sports.
I had him with the national team. He was a great player but especially a fantastic guy. I stay close to his wife, parents and daughter. He was only 31 and its very difficult to explain this situation.
Radja Nainggolan, a Belgian international who played with Astori at two clubs, posted a photo of the two of them joyously celebrating a goal at Cagliari.
A great player, but an even bigger man, so many battles fought together in Cagliari before coming to Rome, I cannot believe it, he wrote.
Astoris formative club Milan also expressed their condolences.
A man who loved football and who grew up with us. AC Milan is shocked by the tragic death of Davide Astori, the clubs official account tweeted in English.
Matteo Renzi, a former mayor of Florence and now leader of the Democrat Party in Sundays Italian election, tweeted: This seems to me impossible. I dont believe it and I cry with the family and everyone at Fiorentina. Ciao capitano.
AFP
Source: NAN