A tribute to Antonio Puerta

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UEFA have decreed the European Super Cup Milan-Sevilla will go ahead as a tribute to Antonio Puerta, who tragically died today.

The 22-year-old player collapsed on Saturday during the Liga game with Getafe and, although he walked off the pitch, suffered five cardiac arrests before he lost his fight for life in hospital.

Although UEFA have rescheduled tonight’s Champions League preliminary round tie with AEK Athens, the August 31 European Super Cup will go ahead as planned.

“The match will be a tribute to Antonio Puerta,†said UEFA spokesman William Gaillard.

Milan have suspended all communication with the media and Press Conferences ahead of the match in Monaco as a sign of respect.

The football world has been stunned by the death of this talented young player, especially after revelations he had collapsed twice before in training.

“One cannot put any blame on the emergency team that gave First Aid, but I can say that the player had precedent and in Italy we are very severe on situations like this,†explained former Inter chief of medical staff Piero Volpi.

Volpi was the doctor who gave Nwankwo Kanu a medical after he signed from Ajax and spotted a serious cardio-vascular dysfunction that meant he risked his life every time he stepped on to the field.

The Nigerian underwent surgery and was out for over a year before carrying on his career.

“In Italy we have very in-depth medical exams that are obligatory and in almost all cases find any doubts over the readiness of a player to compete in sport.â€

Puerta’s case is on the latest in a series of shocking incidents. Most recently Cameroon international Marc-Vivien Foe died during a Confederation Cup match with Colombia on June 26, 2003.

In January 2004 Benfica’s 21-year-old striker Miklos Feher collapsed from a heart attack against Vitoria Guimaraes.

In October that same year Sao Caetano defender Serginho died at the Morumbi stadium in San Paolo.

There are precedents in Italy, although they go back some way. On October 30, 1997 the 24-year-old Perugia player Renato Curi suffered a heart attack during a game against Juventus. It emerged a cardiac problem had been diagnosed, but he was still cleared to play, prompting a clampdown on the rules.

More fortunate was Lionello Manfredonia, whose heart stopped during a match with Bologna on December 30, 1989. The Roma midfielder survived, but his career was over.

credit to milan who have approached this in the right way and hopefully they put on a fitting tribute for puerta

[FlippinEck 3,705]

"Puerta didn't die, God signed him"

[Danny 9]

I genuinely assumed this SC final would be called off.

[bluenose_72 198]

I genuinely assumed this SC final would be called off.

so did i, but might be best to hold this as a tribute for him and i genuinely dont mind who wins, just as long as its a great tribute for a player who had tremendous potential

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Sevilla have informed Uefa that the European Super Cup can go ahead as planned on Friday despite the death of Antonio Puerta.

The young midfielder collapsed on the pitch after suffering a heart attack during Sevilla's game against Getafe on Saturday night and died in hospital on Tuesday.

Uefa consulted the Spanish club over their wishes ahead of the showcase match with Milan in Monaco.

Uefa spokesman William Gaillard said: "We asked them if they wanted to play the Super Cup and they thought about it.

"They came back to us and told us they wanted play as homage to Antonio."

A short film showing the 22-year-old's career will be played before the game between the Champions League and Uefa Cup winners.

Flags in the stadium will be flown at half mast, there will be a minute's silence and the players will wear black armbands.