Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove collapses on the pitch and is taken to hospital in an ambulance – with players in tears and Serie A match abandoned after alarming scenes

Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove collapsed and was taken from the pitch in an ambulance during his side’s Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday.

Bove, 22, went down untouched in the 16th minute, with referee Daniele Doveri immediately stopping the match to give him treatment.

The match was quickly suspended and the players returned to their dressing rooms while Bové was transported from the stadium and to hospital.

Players and staff had formed a wall around Bove while the medical staff cared for him. Several players from both sides were seen crying in harrowing scenes.

Fiorentina released a statement detailing how Bove is ‘currently under pharmacological anesthesia and admitted to intensive care’.

The club went on to say that ‘initial cardiological and neurological tests have ruled out acute damage to the central nervous system and the cardiac and respiratory systems’.

Fiorentina’s statement read: ‘ACF Fiorentina and Careggi University Hospital announce that footballer Edoardo Bove, who was treated on the pitch after losing consciousness during the Fiorentina-Inter match, is currently under pharmacological anesthesia and admitted to intensive care.

‘The Viola footballer arrived at the emergency room in stable hemodynamic conditions and the first cardiological and neurological tests performed have ruled out acute damage to the central nervous system and the cardiorespiratory system. Edoardo Bove will be re-evaluated within the next 24 hours.

One of the first to arrive at the hospital was Captain Cristiano Biraghi. He was accompanied by Martinez Quarta. Danilo Cataldi, one of the first players to help Bove when he collapsed on the pitch, also visited the hospital.

Rolando Mandragora, Pietro Terracciano, Luca Ranieri and Dodo were also seen in hospital, while several other players headed to the medical facility to show their support.

Shortly after the incident took place on Sunday afternoon, Inter Milan released a statement saying: ‘The match has been suspended due to a medical emergency.’

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta spoke about the incident shortly after it occurred. He said: “Inter and the entire football world express their solidarity with the family of Bove and Fiorentina.

‘The decision to postpone the match came spontaneously from everyone, we are a community, all players and even the referee were emotionally involved. We hope it is nothing serious.”

While a Serie A statement read: ‘The match will not resume and will be postponed to a date to be determined. When play was stopped, Bove collapsed to the ground and the situation immediately seemed very serious. An ambulance has taken the player, we are waiting for news.’

Sky Sport Italia reported that Bove was taken to Careggi Hospital near the Stadio Artemio Franchi, where the match was played on Sunday evening.

Bove is on loan from Roma at Fiorentina and has made fourteen appearances so far. He scored his first goal for his current club against his parents in October.

Bove, an Italy international, has played for his country in every age group, up to and including the Under-21s, but is yet to be called up to the senior set-up.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, who joined Fiorentina earlier this season, prayed for Bove’s health in a short message on social media.

“God please,” he wrote on X.

The incident in question was the second time a player collapsed during a Serie A match this year, with Roma defender Evan Ndicka requiring treatment against Udinese in April. It later turned out that he had suffered a collapsed lung.

Fiorentina are currently third in Serie A, level with Inter.