Fans and players of Livorno have paid their respects to Piermario Morosini, who died while playing for the club at the weekend.
Fans and players gather to pay respects to midfielder
Fans and players of Serie B side Livorno have paid their respects to Piermario Morosini, who collapsed and died while playing for the club at the weekend.
The midfielder, who is on loan at the club from Serie A side Udinese, collapsed during an away game at Pescara on Saturday and despite receiving medical attention on the pitch, he was declared dead on arrival at hospital.
Supporters gathered at the club's Armando Picchi stadium on Tuesday, laying candles, cards, flowers and flags at the main gates.
A hearse carrying Morosini's coffin then completed a circuit of the packed stadium, while Livorno's bishop Simone Giusti also performed a blessing.
Morosini's body has now been taken to his home city of Bergamo for his funeral, which will take place on Thursday.
A minute's silence will be held in Morosini's honour at all Italian football matches this weekend while Livorno have confirmed his number 25 shirt will be retired.
"It was a very moving occasion and very hard to swallow for everyone, especially for the family of course," club legend Igor Protti told
Sky Sport 24.
Unity
"Football in these past days has demonstrated a unity which in recent times there has never been.
"I saw our opponents' fans, like those of Pisa, come here to pay tribute to Piermario, and I saw in the eyes of players who observed the minute's silence a sense of disbelief about what has happened.
"I never knew him when he was here in Livorno for three months, but these past days I got to know him from the statements of his friends and team-mates, and he comes out as a great person."
Protti also confirmed that he hopes a section of the ground will be named in Morosini's memory.
"I asked the mayor to dedicate a section of the stadium, and they said he fully agreed. Now we will see how to proceed," he added.
A post-mortem examination on Morosini's body on Monday returned inconclusive results, with a coroner later confirming that further tests were required.
