Autopsy on Piermario Morosini proves inconclusive

MILAN (AP) — The autopsy on Livorno player Piermario Morosini proved inconclusive on Monday and his body will soon be released back to his family.

No obvious cause of death was found during the procedure that lasted more than six hours, but more tests will be carried out on samples taken from the body.

"There are no macroscopic signs which allows us to determine the boy's cause of death," said coroner Cristian D'Ovidio, who performed the autopsy. "Now more in-depth examinations are needed, even of a toxicological nature."

Morosini, who was on loan from Serie A side Udinese, collapsed and died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Serie B match at Pescara on Saturday. He was 25.

When Morosini's body is released it will be taken to the port city of Livorno for a public viewing so fans can pay their final respects. There are also plans to carry the coffin around Livorno's Armando Picchi stadium on Tuesday.

The funeral will be held in Morosini's hometown of Bergamo on Thursday.

"I told the boys that we need to react because he was a fighter," Livorno president Aldo Spinelli said after meeting the squad at the first training session since Morosini's death.

"Tomorrow there will be a procession with a turn around the stadium in which the whole squad will participate. It will be our way of honoring him in front of the city."

Spinelli also revealed he has asked for Saturday's game against Cittadella to be put back to Wednesday at the earliest.

The Italian Football Federation announced Monday that a minute's silence in memory of Morosini will be held at all matches until April 22.

Livorno has officially retired Morosini's No. 25 shirt. Vicenza — where Morosini spent two seasons on loan from 2006 before returning for a second spell last year — did likewise on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Udinese and the Italian Footballers' Association have both set up bank accounts to collect funds for Morosini's disabled sister. Morosini's mother died when he was 15 and his father died two years later. His brother died shortly afterward, too.