Football fraternity mourns Italian footballer's death during match

London, Apr 15(ANI): The football fraternity is in a state of mourning as tragedy struck again after Italy's former under-21 international Piermario Morosini collapsed and died from a heart attack on Saturday during a football match.

This incident has transpired less than a month after Bolton Wanderers' Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during their FA Cup quarterfinal clash against Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane.

Morosini, 25, who played for Livorno, fell on to the pitch halfway through the first half of the match against Pescara, as his side was leading 2-0 in front of appalled teammates and stunned fans.

Television footage showed midfielder Morosini appeared to shudder before falling on his knees, and then he fought back to get back on his feet only to ultimately crash on the ground with his hands grasping his chest, Express.co.uk reports.

Frenzied players from both sides brought it to the referee's attention, as medics from Livorno rushed onto the pitch to give the player heart massage in a bid to breathe life into him as he had collapsed on the pitch.

Morosini, who had been on loan from Serie A side Udinese, died an hour after arriving at the hospital, as he never regained consciousness.

Italy's football federation called off all of Sunday's league games. (ANI)