Fiorentina footballer Edoardo Bove in induced coma after collapsing on the pitch during Serie A match against Inter Milan

Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove is in an induced coma after collapsing on the pitch during his team’s Serie A home match against Inter Milan on Sunday, with the match abandoned shortly after .

Bove’s teammates immediately called for medical help and both groups of players surrounded the 22-year-old while he was treated before he was quickly carried on a stretcher to an ambulance near the pitch and taken away at the Careggi Hospital in Florence.

“Fiorentina and Careggi University Hospital announce that footballer Edoardo Bove… is currently under pharmacological sedation and hospitalized in intensive care,” Fiorentina said in a statement.

“The first cardiological and neurological examinations carried out ruled out any acute damage to the central nervous system and cardio-respiratory system. Edoardo Bove will be re-evaluated in the next 24 hours.”

Sky Italia reported that the player regained consciousness in the ambulance and managed to breathe on his own.

Bove’s parents and his girlfriend arrived at the hospital along with Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino and most of his teammates, as well as the club’s directors and the city’s mayor.

Fiorentina fans also gathered at the hospital.

The incident occurred in the 16th minute of the match, with play stopped following a VAR check. Bove apparently bent down to tie the laces of his boot before suddenly falling to the ground.

Fiorentina players were distraught on the pitch and were comforted by staff members as well as Inter players. Many sobbed openly before the teams left the field.

The Italian championship match was immediately interrupted, before being abandoned. The score at the time of Bové’s collapse was 0-0.

Many at Fiorentina – as well as supporters – remember former captain Davide Astori, who was found dead in his hotel room in March 2018 before a match in Udine.

This is the second incident this year of a player collapsing during a Serie A match. It happened to Roma defender Evan Ndicka during his team’s match at Udinese in April.

P.A.