ROME, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Fiorentina captain and Italy's national team defender Davide Astori has died at the age of 31, the Florence-based team confirmed in a statement Sunday.
Astori was "taken ill", the statement said after local media reported the player was found dead from cardiac arrest in his hotel room in the northern city of Udine, where his team was set to face Udinese.
Udine prosecutors told reporters the death may have been due to natural causes, according to ANSA news agency.
National Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malago, who is also Serie A commissioner, canceled Sunday's round and postponed all scheduled matches to an unspecified date.
Malago called the young player's sudden death "tragic" and said it left him "shocked and speechless", according to various local media.
"I am incredulous and lament along with (Astori's) family and the Fiorentina. Goodbye Captain," tweeted Fiorentina supporter Matteo Renzi, who was mayor of Florence before serving as prime minister of Italy.
"All of Florence stands with the (Astori) family and with AC Fiorentina," current Florence Mayor Dario Nardella tweeted.
Also on Twitter, Sport Minister Luca Lotti said "we lose an extraordinary athlete and man".
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said coaching Astori when he was a player for Cagliari in 2008-2010 "has been a privilege", according to ANSA.
