The two sides were both four points behind leaders Napoli, but that all suddenly seemed of little importance when Fiore midfielder Edoardo Bove fell to the ground in the 16th minute of the match with the score at 0-0.

The 22-year-old Italian was swiftly stretchered off to an ambulance and taken to hospital, where he is in a medically induced coma.

Fiorentina said initial tests have “ruled out acute damage to the central nervous system and the cardio-respiratory system” and that Bove will be re-evaluated in the next 24 hours.

La Viola players were distraught on the field and were comforted by staff members as well as Inter players.

Referee Daniel Doveri took the teams off the field as the game was suspended, and a little over half an hour later it was confirmed the match had been abandoned.

Bove, a product of Roma’s youth system, joined Fiorentina from the Giallorossi in August on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

AAP