Open Letter: The Calcio World Comes Together to Mourn the Tragic Loss of Davide Astori
Round 27 of Serie A action was shaping up to be quite the weekend in ‘calcio’. Last night, Paulo Dybala’s 93rd minute thriller lifted ‘the Old Lady’ to a crucial win against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. Hours later, it was Roma who threw a wrench into Napoli’s Scudetto plans as they triumphantly left the San Paolo with three points. Today’s clash between Milan and Inter had all the makings of a heavyweight title bout at the San Siro that would inevitably shake up the league table. It was set to take center stage as the weekend’s main event, however, in an instant, that all changed. Suddenly, sport took a backseat as tragedy hit Italy and sent shockwaves around the country.
I woke up early this morning, and like any other normal day, I reached for my phone to check Twitter for the latest buzz in the build-up to the ‘Derby Della Madonnina’. Except, a push notification and several subsequent messages from a group of calcio lovers like myself had shaken me to the core and left me speechless. Out of nowhere, we had lost one of our own — 31-year old Davide Astori.
Earlier this morning, the Italian defender’s current club Fiorentina released this statement following the news of his unexpected passing:
“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.”
Hours before the Viola Captain was to lead his team onto the pitch away versus Udinese, he was gone, leaving behind his long-time girlfriend Francesca Fioretti and his two-year old daughter, Vittoria.
Fiorentina spokesman Arturo Mastronardi, per Football Italia, explained Astori “did not turn up to the team breakfast at 9.30am and he was usually the first to arrive.”
Following this tragic loss, Lega Calcio had immediately announced the postponement of Sunday’s group of fixtures, and without a doubt, it was the appropriate course of action in such a somber time for Italians.
Football can wait. Life is much more important, and for Astori, his was one of great value on the Peninsula that without question deserves to be properly honored.
Before Chelsea Football Club prepared for their big clash with Manchester City, Head Coach Antonio Conte, who managed Astori while serving as Italian National Team boss, spoke with Sky Sports about his loss (h/t Italian Football Daily):
“It’s a tragedy, this is horrible news. It’s very difficult for me to speak about this tragedy right now. He was a fantastic guy, a great player but especially a fantastic guy. I remain close to the family at this moment but I repeat, he was just 31.
“It’s very difficult to explain this situation to his wife and his daughter.”
As the heartfelt messages poured in from all corners of the football world, and I read each and every one, I struggled to fight back tears. Beyond football, we are all human beings who feel, hurt and must cope with everything life throws at us unexpectedly, and for a 31-year old with a family, daughter and whole life ahead of him only have it all taken away in an instant, that is as unexpected as it gets.
Football is such a special sport. It brings millions together to celebrate and share a common love. But as a community, we need to do better. We need to be better. Some of the horrible things written in the wake of Astori’s tragic passing, and the tasteless individuals/publications using it as an opportunity for clickbait, have no place in the beautiful game. However, rather than focusing so much on the negative, we must bring light from the darkness, show compassion, and come together to celebrate his life as a person more than anything else he accomplished on a pitch in football.
Loss and grieving often puts life into perspective and it makes us stop to think about those we love, hold closest to our hearts and what is really important in the end. As we mourn the shocking death of Astori this weekend, and continue to do so through the remainder of the Serie A season, let us be reminded that there is no greater gift than life and who we are able to share it with. Astori’s unexpected passing isn’t the first, and sadly will not be the last we face. However, we must be united in this difficult time. Put aside the negativity of missing out on the FIFA World Cup, the issues with VAR and the angst between rival fanbases in a race to meet specific sporting objectives. When it comes to life itself, they are all meaningless.
My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to Astori’s family, friends, and the entire Fiorentina organization during this difficult time. But before closing, I leave you with Gianluigi Buffon’s heartfelt Instagram tribute to Davide Astori, as translated by Italian Football Daily.
“Ciao Caro Asto.”
“Seldom have I publicly expressed my thoughts on a person, because I always allowed the beauty and unique nature of relationships, of reciprocal respect and affection, to avoid being used or misused by those who don’t have the decency to respect certain bonds.
In your case, I feel the need to make an exception to the rule, because you have a young wife and family who are suffering, but above all a little girl, who deserves to know that her father was in every way A GOOD PERSON… a TRULY GOOD PERSON…You were the best expression of an old-fashioned world, one that people have left behind, with values like altruism, elegance, politeness and respect towards others.
Compliments genuinely, you were one of the best sporting figures I ever came up against.”
R.I.P.
“Your crazy Gigi.”
Riposa in pace. Ciao Davide.
