Football matches CALLED OFF in Italy

All football matches in Italy have been postponed as a mark of respect following the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday morning

Confirmed by the Vatican, the first-ever Latin American pontiff d!ed at the age off 88.

And in tribute to the Bishop of Rome, all senior men’s and Under-20 top-flight fixtures have been called off.

In a statement released shortly following the Pope’s death, Serie A put out: ‘Following the passing of the Holy Father, the Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A announces that the matches scheduled for today of the Serie A Enilive and Primavera 1 Championships are postponed to a date to be determined.’

There were due to be four Serie A fixture across Easter Monday starting with Torino versus Udinese (11.30am, BST).

Following that encounter was due to be Cagliari versus Fiorentina (2pm), Genoa versus Lazio (5pm) and Parma versus Juventus (7.45pm) concluding the action.

In Primavera 1 the three now-postponed matches were Roma U20s versus Udinese U20s (11am), Monza U20s versus Sassuolo U20s and Sampdoria U20s versus Torino U20s.

It is currently unclear when those aforementioned games will be rearranged, as per Serie A’s statement.

After the announcement of Pope Francis’ passing, bells tolled in church towers across Rome. His de.ath was read out by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.

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