Minute's silence to honour Astori at UEFA Champions League and Europa League games

Monday, 5 March 2018, 15:47 Last update: about 9 years ago

Supporters lay flowers and scarves to pay their homage to Davide Astori, outside the Artemio Franchi stadium, in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 4, 2018. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday at the age of 31 after a suspected cardiac arrest before an Italian league match. The defender, who has also played 14 times for Italy’s national team, was discovered by Fiorentina staff when he failed to show up for breakfast at the hotel in Udine. Fiorentina’s game at Udinese in northeast Italy was called off, along with all fixtures in the country’s top two divisions. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

Tributes will be paid before Champions League and Europa League games this week to honor Italian player Davide Astori, who died over the weekend.

UEFA said Monday there will be a minute's silence in memory of the Fiorentina captain before all games.

Three Italian clubs are playing this week, including AC Milan, where Astori began his professional career.

A banner reading in Italian "So long captain" is hung outside the Artemio Franchi stadium to honor Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 4, 2018. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died, the club has announced Sunday. He was 31. Astori was found in the early hours of Sunday morning in his hotel room in Udine, where the team was staying ahead of an Italian league match. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

Juventus plays at Tottenham in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Milan and Lazio host Europa League games on Thursday against Arsenal and Dynamo Kiev, respectively.

The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest before his team was set to play an Italian league match at Udinese.

His funeral will take place on Thursday at the Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence.

In this photo taken on Thursday, March 24, 2016, Italy's Davide Astori poses during a friendly soccer match between Italy and Spain, at the Friuli Dacia Arena stadium in Udine, Italy. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died, the club has announced. He was 31. Astori was found in the early hours of Sunday morning in his hotel room in Udine, where the team was staying ahead of an Italian league match. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini)

A criminal investigation has been opened but Udine prosecutor Antonio De Nicolo stressed that it was normal procedure and there is no current reason to suspect any wrongdoing.

An autopsy will take place on Tuesday and Astori's body will be brought back to Florence the following day and taken to Italy's national training center, on the outskirts of the city, for people to pay their respects.

Astori played 14 teams for Italy, including at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

He leaves behind his wife and a 2-year-old daughter.