Fiorentina captain Davide Astori dies, aged 31

Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died suddenly at the age of 31, the Italian club have confirmed.

The Italian defender is believed to have passed away in his hotel room overnight ahead of his side's game at Udinese, which has now been called off.

Fiorentina's official Twitter account said that the 14-time Italy international had succumbed to "a sudden illness" and that everyone at the club has been left "deeply distraught" by his passing.

A statement on the club's official website added: "Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died.

"For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media."

Astori, who started his professional career with AC Milan, had been with Fiorentina since 2015.

Sunday's entire Serie A fixture list could now reportedly be called off following the tragic news.